The
primary goal of this website is to demonstrate the suitability of semblance
hypothesis in explaining internal sensation of memory and other brain
functions. This hypothesis was published in 2007 and revised editions were
published in 2008 and 2010. Conventional approaches to study memory examine
molecular and electrophysiological changes taking place at the time of
associative learning and correlate them with behavioral motor changes
occurring at the time of memory retrieval.
No molecular changes have been observed at the time of memory retrieval.
We
approached the problem differently. We viewed memories as virtual internal
sensations intrinsic to the nervous system at the time of memory retrieval.
Can we study the virtual sensory qualities of the internal sensations of
memory? For the first time, we made such an approach. The present work
examined possible basic units of internal sensations of memory at the time
of its retrieval, hypothesized re-activable cellular changes from which they
can occur and traced these changes back towards the time of associative learning. Using this approach, higher brain functions
that are intrinsic to the system are reduced to basic units of internal
sensations that can be formed from synaptic level functions (physical
mechanism). Need for this approach and feasibility to test the operation of
similar units in physical systems is explained.
By this
approach, most of the findings by different faculties of brain research can
be explained as interconnected phenomena. These include gene expression
associated with learning (Biochemistry), dendritic spine changes
(Neurobiology), LTP (Electrophysiology), place cell firing (Systems
neuroscience), consolidation of memory (Psychology) and association of memory with consciousness (Consciousness studies).
Most importantly, it provides a mechanism for memory retrieval at
physiological time scales.
In addition, this approach may help us to understand
internal sensations of other higher brain functions. Recent research findings from different laboratories
are examined in terms of the present hypothesis and analyses have been
posted.
