Is temporo-spatial dynamics the "common currency" of brain and mind? In Quest of "Spatiotemporal Neuroscience".
Physics of Life Reviews July 1, 2020 G. Northoff, Soren Wainio-Theberge, K. Evers
The brain's spontaneous activity constructs its own inner time and space, and this spatiotemporal dynamics may be the missing link between neural activity and mental phenomena such as self, consciousness, and time perception. The authors propose 'Spatiotemporal Neuroscience,' which focuses on the brain's temporo-spatial dynamics—like functional connectivity and frequency fluctuations—rather than on specific cognitive or affective functions. They show how mechanisms such as spatiotemporal repertoire, integration, and speed give rise to distinct mental features. This approach treats the relationship between neuronal and mental features as intrinsic and non-causal, offering a common currency that connects brain and mind.