It's a "supersystem configuration" [AoK, Ap6] 'map' -
an array-processor in which, via the alternating merging
of specific and non-specific activation, TD E/I(down)
is converged upon via 'blindly'-automated 'latching'
that occurs when TD E/I(up) occurs within 'array
units' ["columns" of hippocampal allocortex], topo-
graphically-ordered outputs are directed to the thal-
amus, where "supersystem [system of systems] con-
figurations" are established.
These TD E/I-minimization dynamics are robustly-
self-organizing be-cause, if an 'inappropriate' "sup-
ersystem configuration" is converged upon, the 'in-
appropriate' behavioral manifestations will induce
feedback, from the external experiential environ-
ment, and that will induce TD E/I(up) within the
hippocampal TD E/I-minimization, and the dyn-
amics will 'blindly' and automatically converge
upon a different "supersystem configuration". And
so forth, all the while, that neural activation which
just recurs most-often will, through microscopic
trophic ["growth"] modifications that =only=
directly reflect the neural activation that actually
occurs, will be created. These "micro-mods" are
literally analogous to "mass" as it is invoked in
Physics, and impart "inertia" within the neural
activation dynamics that are converged upon
via TD E/I-minimization.
"Memory" is =distributed= throughout the network,
at =all= scales from molecular to global-system,
and is constituted by this "biological mass". All
the hippocampus does is act as a "traffic cop'
with respect to that neural activation that re-
mains after TD E/I-minimization is converged
upon. 'Memory' occurs within the hippocampus
in the allocortical version of the 'same' way that it
occurs within the neocortex. When hippocampal
function breaks-down, new memories become
much more difficult to form be-cause the hipp-
ocampus is no longer governing "supersystem
configuration" - so the 'switches' don't get
thrown, robustly, within thalamus. 'Memory'
can, however, still be generated via round-about
means [L. Squire long-ago Verified the latter.]
The hippocampal array processor is robustly
tunable - how to say it? Like one of those
conformable full-of-'nails' Art-things, where
one places one's hand on the array of 'nails',
raises the thing so that 'gravity' rearranges the
nails so that, when one lowers the thing and
removes one's hand from it, an 'imprint' of one's
hand is left in the conformation of the thing's
arrayed nails.
In the hippocampus, the array-units are finely-
tunable, not only across the hippocampus, but
within their columnar structures, in a roughly-
analogous way, except that, instead of a 3-D-
smooth 'imprint', it's 'just' TD E/I-minimization,
as above, that does the tuning.
See AoK, Ap5 for further, necessary, discussion,
especially with respect to "amygdalar priming".
Please get-beyond the False notion that the
hippocampus is a 'spatial map'.
There is an =illusion= of it's 'being a spatial map'
because ['disregarding' the 3rd spatial dimension,
which makes no sense because that's where the
tuning occurs within hippocampus] the allocortical
surface is as a 2-D 'sheet' which is reminiscent of
a "map", and because folks've cross-correlated
experimental animals' maze behaviors to hippo-
campal activation, but that 'correlation' is artifactual,
because the it's the "supersystem configuration"
dynamics that are actually determining the animals'
maze behaviors. The only "space" with which hippo-
campal function is 'concerned' is the =internal= 3-D
"supersystem configuration" space, with respect to
which the hippocampus 'maps' dynamic neural
interconnectedness.
Get it.
All the verifying refs are cited in AoK.
Please work to understand what's here.
It will stand for all 'time' [or at least until evolutionary
dynamics alter the neural Topology at a Fundamental
'level'.]
It's Gift-stuff.
You know?
Gees, 'louise'! The Children have waited for your
concurrence long enough!
Get over it.
K. P. Collins