Two Views of Brain Function

Abstract

In this chapter I encourage a broader discussion of how we view brain function. Traditionally, experiments of those studying brain functions have largely focused on the manner in which it responds to the momentary demands of the environment. By their very nature such experiments encourage a primarily reflexive view of brain function. Although such an approach has been remarkably productive, it ignores the alternative possibility that the brain's operations are mainly intrinsic, involving the maintenance of information for interpreting, responding to, and even predicting environmental demands. Here I will argue that it is the latter view that best characterizes the nature of brain function.