Neuromolecular computing: a new approach to human brain evolution

Evolutionary approaches in human cognitive neurobiology traditionally empha size macroscopic structures. It may soon be possible to supplement these st udies with models of human information-processing of the molecular level. T hin-film, simulation, fluorescence microscopy, and high-resolution X-ray cr ystallographic studies provide evidence for transiently organized neural me mbrane molecular systems with possible computational properties. This revie w article examines evidence for hydrophobic-mismatch molecular interactions within phospholipid microdomains of a neural membrane bilayer. It is propo sed that these interactions are a massively parallel algorithm which can ra pidly compute near-optimal solutions to complex cognitive and physiological problems. Coupling of microdomain activity to permenant ion movements at l igand-gated and voltage-gated channels permits the conversion of molecular computations into neuron frequency codes. Evidence for microdomain transpor t of proteins to specific locations within the bilayer suggests that neurom olecular computation may be under some genetic control and thus modifiable by natural selection. A possible experimental approach for examining evolut ionary changes in neuromolecular computation is briefly discussed.