Travis Monk

If neurons are the answer, then what was the question? The neurons of millions of species, from dozens of phyla, share the same core functional features. They produce similar action potentials with similar ion channels, and communicate those signals with similar chemicals. Those conserved functional features indicate two things. First, there might be general principles that govern neural computation across the entire animal kingdom. Second, those general principles were established very early in the evolutionary history of nervous systems. I investigate when and why animals evolved spiking neurons, and how spiking neurons solve the pressing tasks that ancient animals must have faced. I intend to provide context to help us understand neural computation in its complex modern form.