Timing in cognition and EEG brain dynamics: discreteness versus continuity
This article provides an overview of recent developments in solving the timing problem (discreteness vs. continuity) in cognitive neuroscience. Both theoretical and empirical studies have been considered, with an emphasis on the framework of operational architectonics (OA) of brain functioning (Fingelkurts and Fingelkurts in Brain Mind 2:29129, 2001; Neurosci Biobehav Rev 28:827836, 2005). This framework explores the temporal structure of information flow and interarea interactions within the network of functional neuronal populations by examining topographic sharp transition processes in the scalp EEG, on the millisecond scale. We conclude, based on the OA framework, that brain functioning is best conceptualized in terms of continuitydiscreteness unity which is also the characteristic property of cognition. At the end we emphasize where one might productively proceed for the future research.
cognition eeg discreteness continuity operational architectonics temporal structure consciousness perception brain operations large-scale networks metastability synchronization binding problem brain and mind