The Cortex and the Critical Point

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The cerebral cortex operates near a critical phase transition point for optimum performance. Individual neurons have limited computational abilities, but their collaboration creates remarkable outcomes. They fire synchronously and then act independently, embodying both independence and interdependence. This dynamic occurs near a critical point, where neuronal activity shifts between damped and amplified states, optimizing information processing and generating complex emergent patterns. This phenomenon is encapsulated in the criticality hypothesis, which posits that neurons function best near this critical juncture. John Beggs, a pioneer of this hypothesis, introduces the concept and its significance for brain function. He presents recent experimental findings that clarify the criticality hypothesis and emergent phenomena. The discussion includes the critical point's two main consequences: scale-free properties that enhance information processing and universality, which suggests that complex emergent phenomena can be explained by simple models applicable across species and scales. Beggs also explores future research avenues, such as homeostatic regulation, quasicriticality, and the relationship between cortical expansion and intelligence. An appendix offers technical material, and many chapters feature exercises utilizing freely available code and datasets.