Topic 4 Levels of analysis

Spatial resolution

Figure 4.1: Spatial levels of analysis (Churchland)

Spatial and Temporal Resolution

[[@sejnowski2014putting]](http://doi.org/10.1038/nn.3839)

Figure 4.2: (Sejnowski, Churchland, and Movshon 2014)

Your turn

What’s a micro (spatially small) influence on/aspect of behavior?
What’s a macro (spatially large)…
What’s a micro (temporally short)…
What’s a macro (temporally long)…

Why does this matter?

Different methods, different levels of analysis
Challenge of linking phenomena across levels
- How does the micro affect macro or vice versa?
Challenge of interpretation

Important skills: Being able to think about spatial and temporal levels of analysis inside and outside of neuroscience.

Spatial Resolution in Detail

Within an individual
- molecular
  - genetic
  - receptor
- chemical
  - neurotransmitter/hormonal
- cellular
  - neuronal firing
Internal to individuals
- network
  - lateral inhibition
- area
  - V1 varies by ~2x
- region
  - Wiring/connectivity differences
- system
External to individuals
- Social
  - Friends, family, teachers, others
- Non-social
  - Neighborhood, school, state/region, country
  - Physical environment

Temporal Resolution in Detail

Within one lifetime
- Microseconds
  - detection position from acoustic stimulation
- Milliseconds
  - action potential
- Seconds
  - changes in EEG power
  - short-term memory
Within one lifetime
- Minutes
  - synaptic plasticity
- Hours
  - memory consolidation
  - Hormone (melatonin, cortisol) levels
- Days
Within one lifetime
- Weeks
- Months
- Years
  - education & training
  - disease processes
  - cultural change
Across lifetimes
- Centuries
  - cultural changes
- Millenia
  - Natural & sexual selection

References

Sejnowski, Terrence J, Patricia S Churchland, and J Anthony Movshon. 2014. “Putting Big Data to Good Use in Neuroscience.” Nature Neuroscience 17 (11): 1440–41. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.3839.