Coherence, complexity and creativity: From laser to cognitive processes
Year: 2010
Authors: Arecchi F.T.
Autors Affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Firenze and CNR – INO Firenze, Italy
Abstract: This is a review of the ideas and expeiments that established the onset of laser coherence above a suitable threshold. That threshold is the fist of a chain of bifurcations in a non-linear dynamics, leading eventually to deterministic chaos in lasers. In particular, the so-called HC (homoclinic chaos) behaviour has striking analogies with the electrical activity of neurons. Based on these considerations, we develop a dynamical model of neuron synchronization leading to coherent global perceptions. Synchronization implies a transient control of neuron chaos. Depending on the time duration of this control, a cognitive agent combines the input data with different amounts of internal resources; this a strictly individual endeavour that we call cognitive creativity. To sum up, while coherence ia associated with long-range correlations, complexity arises whenever a network of coupled dynamical systems displays multiple paths of coherence; creativity corresponds to a free selection of coherence path within a complex nest and it is dynamically interpreted as a pertial operation of chaos control.
Journal/Review:
Volume: 16 Pages from: 157 to: 183
KeyWords: chaos