The Astrocyte as a Mediator for Self-Reflexive Agents

Abstract

A model of synapse-astrocyte interactions is proposed which enables repeated neuron-to-neuron connections from the single synapse to the network level. Specifically, the possibility that astrocytes may be organized in networks and processes of a single astrocyte may enable intracellular signaling loops via gap junctions is suggested as a plausible biophysical correlate for hierarchical signaling organization of cyclic pathways. This process ultimately translates to abstract planning, intention and execution of complex actions. The formalism applied is called proemial counting and it enables the generation of cycles of various length in the astroglial network, interpreted as intended action programs. Furthermore, the implementation of a model of the reticular formation in a robot brain based on glial-neuronal interactions is suggested. Finally, the implementation of robot brains with self-reflexive capabilities is discussed.

Astrocyte-Synapse Receptor Coupling in Tripartite Synapses: A Mechanism for Self-Observing Robots

“…Basically, the concept of "Self" is a fundamental characteristic of living systems with first person consciousness [15] [46] [59]. Therefore, I suggest that preferred locations of self-observation in the human brain could mediate selfobserving cellular systems and the implementation of robots with consciousness.…”

“…These operations are based on two directional (→) and two bidirectional (↔) relations generating a cyclic system of synapse-astrocyte interactions. In addition, if we interpret a system of relators and relata on numbers, the system can be proemially counted [15]. The normal concept of counting starts at one point and ends on another.…”

“…In contrast to this arithmetical counting, proemial counting counts both directional "ordered" and bidirectional "exchange" operations. Since self-observation may be based on cyclic processes, the model proposed operates on the proemial relationship or counting [15].…”

“…Whereas cyclic operations in tripartite synapses may enable self-reflection [15], self-observation may additionally require special mechanisms that compare activated neuronal receptors with astrocytic receptors by receptor-receptor coupling.…”

“…I hypothesize that the coupling of homo-(composed of the same receptor type) and hetero-(composed of a different receptor type) receptor complexes in tripartite synapses [14] is commanded and controlled by GT. This mechanism is cyclically organized and operates by the formalism of proemial counting [15] based on the interchange between feedforward and feedback operations. Receptors are interpreted as places with the same or different quality or domain of synaptic information processing, formally described as tritograms [16] [17].…”