essay question

[Richard Norman]

Mark Brady wrote in message ...
>I am a student studying Cognitive Science, and I have an essay
question,
>entitled, "It is spatio-temporal integration that allows neurones to
>process data".  If anyone knows of any good references, or has an
>first-hand information on the subject, could they please email me with
the
>relevant info.
>
>Thanks,
> M.E.Brady


The "processing of data" by a single neuron ordinarily refers to the
synaptic
integration that results when large numbers of synapses (many thousands)
converging on the dendritic tree, each with different frequencies of
activity
(up to hundreds of impulses per second) all contribute to the membrane
potential of the postsynaptic cell.  Look up "spatial summation" and
"temporal summation" and think about what "spatio-temporal integration"
means.