REVERSIBLE DEACTIVATION OF CEREBRAL NETWORK COMPONENTS

Reversible deactivation techniques have shown that the cerebral networ k: (1) is dynamic, its functions depending on contemporaneous processi ng elsewhere in the network; (2) is composed of single nodes that cont ribute to several behaviors; (3) possesses an inherent plasticity that tends to minimize lesion-induced deficits; and (4) comprises feedforw ard and lateral connections that contribute in different ways to netwo rk operations. The next major advances in understanding network operat ions will probably be made by applying a combination of behavioral, ne uron-recording and deactivation techniques. The greatest near-term gai ns ave likely to be made in understanding the contributions that feedb ack projections make to cerebral network function.