The role of complexity theory in understanding brain's neuron-glia
interactions.
Abstract
Brain information processing complexity is conventionally recognized as
derived from neuronal activity, with neurons and their dynamic
signalling responsible for the transfer and processing of information .
However, the brain also contains other non-neuronal cells, glial cells,
which exceed the number of neurons and have been largely ignored, in the
past, as being involved in the processes related with information coding
by neural networks and underlying brain functions. Nonetheless, decisive
advances in the characterization of the molecular and physiological
properties of glial cells shed light on their active roles in
neurotransmission and neuronal physio-pathology. Thus, in order to
understand the brain functions we need to consider the complexity of the
relationship between neurons and glial cells. This expanded relationship
between neurons and glia is challenging traditional neurobiology,
representing a typical ‘chicken and egg ‘problem. A philosophical tool,
the ‘Theory of Complexity’ of Edgard Morin can help to better explain
and study the complexity of neuronal- glia interactions. Morin’s
proposal on complexity is useful to transform brain knowledge, in order
to review the brain molecular functions in anti-reductionist pattern. In
this manuscript, we will discuss how to use the ‘retroactive loop’
principle from the Morin’s ‘Theory of Complexity’ at the brain molecular
level, proposing a new philosophical-experimental grid that can help
neuroscientists for a better understanding of the glia-neurons
interactions in the brain.