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(Referência obtida automaticamente do SciELO, por meio da informação sobre o financiamento pela FAPESP e o número do processo correspondente, incluída na publicação pelos autores.)

Learning about brain physiology and complexity from the study of the epilepsies

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Autor(es):
N. Garcia-Cairasco [1]
Número total de Autores: 1
Afiliação do(s) autor(es):
[1] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto. Departamento de Fisiologia - Brasil
Número total de Afiliações: 1
Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
Fonte: Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research; v. 42, n. 1, p. 76-86, 2009-01-00.
Resumo

The brain is a complex system, which produces emergent properties such as those associated with activity-dependent plasticity in processes of learning and memory. Therefore, understanding the integrated structures and functions of the brain is well beyond the scope of either superficial or extremely reductionistic approaches. Although a combination of zoom-in and zoom-out strategies is desirable when the brain is studied, constructing the appropriate interfaces to connect all levels of analysis is one of the most difficult challenges of contemporary neuroscience. Is it possible to build appropriate models of brain function and dysfunctions with computational tools? Among the best-known brain dysfunctions, epilepsies are neurological syndromes that reach a variety of networks, from widespread anatomical brain circuits to local molecular environments. One logical question would be: are those complex brain networks always producing maladaptive emergent properties compatible with epileptogenic substrates? The present review will deal with this question and will try to answer it by illustrating several points from the literature and from our laboratory data, with examples at the behavioral, electrophysiological, cellular and molecular levels. We conclude that, because the brain is a complex system compatible with the production of emergent properties, including plasticity, its functions should be approached using an integrated view. Concepts such as brain networks, graphics theory, neuroinformatics, and e-neuroscience are discussed as new transdisciplinary approaches dealing with the continuous growth of information about brain physiology and its dysfunctions. The epilepsies are discussed as neurobiological models of complex systems displaying maladaptive plasticity. (AU)

Processo FAPESP: 03/00873-2 - Caracterização neuroetológica, video-EEgráfica e anatômica dos efeitos comportamentais e neurotóxicos da ingestão do suco de carambola (Averrhoa carambola) em ratos com insuficiência renal aguda
Beneficiário:Norberto Garcia Cairasco
Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
Processo FAPESP: 07/50261-4 - Neurociências, epilepsia e arte: caracterização interdisciplinar da cepa WAR e modelos de epilepsia correlacionados: as oficinas Da Vinci, divulgação científica e quebras de estigmas em epilepsia
Beneficiário:Norberto Garcia Cairasco
Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático
Processo FAPESP: 05/56447-7 - Pesquisa através de imagens por ressonância magnética de alto campo destinadas a estudos em humanos
Beneficiário:João Pereira Leite
Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa CINAPCE - Temático