{"slug": "analog-cognition-and-consciousness", "title": "Analog Cognition and Consciousness", "summary": "A new theory published in The Journal of Neuroscience proposes that cognition and consciousness arise from bidirectional interactions between neuronal spiking and rhythmic electric field activity, or brain waves, which exert mesoscale influence over neural excitability and support analog computation. The authors, supported by the Freedom Together Foundation, The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, and multiple U.S. military and NIH grants, argue that brain waves flexibly route neural signals, enabling multifunctional neurons to assume context-dependent roles, and that goal-directed thought and unified consciousness emerge from cortex-wide wave dynamics.", "body_md": "## Abstract\n\nCognition and consciousness may arise from bidirectional interactions between neuronal spiking and rhythmic electric field activity (brain waves). Goal-directed behavior relies on top-down control to coordinate large neural populations into low-dimensional, task-oriented dynamics. Brain waves are well suited for this role, exerting mesoscale influence over neural excitability. They can also support analog computation, shaping activity patterns according to underlying computational principles. Brain waves can flexibly route and organize neural signals, enabling multifunctional neurons to assume context-dependent roles, a hallmark of cognition. In this view, goal-directed thought, action, and unified consciousness emerge from cortex-wide wave dynamics that both reflect and transform spiking into coherent brain states.\n\n## Footnotes\n\nThis work was supported by the Freedom Together Foundation, The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Army Research Office W911NF2410228, Office of Naval Research N00014-22-1-2453, MURI N00014-23-1-2768, NIMH 1R01MH131715-01, The Simons Center for the Social Brain.\n\nThe authors declare no competing financial interests.\n\n[View Full Text](https://www.jneurosci.org/content/46/33/e0711262026.full)\n\n### Member Log In\n\n### Log in using your username and password\n\n### Purchase access\n\n[create an account](/user/register)if you don't already have one.", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/analog-cognition-and-consciousness", "canonical_source": "https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0711-26.2026", "published_at": "2026-08-20 15:55:47+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-08-20 16:17:22.210005+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["neural-networks"], "entities": ["The Journal of Neuroscience", "Freedom Together Foundation", "The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory", "Army Research Office", "Office of Naval Research", "NIMH", "Simons Center for the Social Brain"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/analog-cognition-and-consciousness", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/analog-cognition-and-consciousness.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/analog-cognition-and-consciousness.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/analog-cognition-and-consciousness.jsonld"}}