Abstract
The neural network paradigms currently dominant in ANN derive their biological inspiration entirely from natural neural computation. Inspiration for new and modified paradigms can be derived by extending consideration to glial cells and, in particular, astrocytes. Astrocytes appear to possess a type of intracellular calcium dynamics which provides a basis of excitability for signaling between them. This raises the possibility that astrocytic networks engage in information processing with very different temporal and spatial characteristics from neuronal signaling. Drawing on a wide range of glial experimental evidence a mechanism is described enabling astrocytes to interact with neurons in a fashion which greatly enhances the effectiveness of long term synaptic facilitation. The potential of this mechanism is illustrated in relation to a range of current research issues in natural and artificial neural networks.
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© 1995 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Wallace, J.G., Bluff, K. (1995). Should ANN be ANGN?. In: Mira, J., Sandoval, F. (eds) From Natural to Artificial Neural Computation. IWANN 1995. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 930. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-59497-3_156
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-59497-3_156
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