The brains of higher mammals are extraordinary integrative devices. Signals from large numbers of functionally specialized groups of neurons distributed over many brain regions are integrated to generate a coherent, multimodal scene. Signals from the environment are integrated with ongoing, patterned neural activity that provides them with a meaningful context. We review recent advances in neurophysiology and neuroimaging that are beginning to reveal the neural mechanisms of integration. In addition, we discuss concepts and measures derived from information theory that lend a theoretical basis to the notion of complexity as integration of information and suggest new experimental tests of these concepts.

中文翻译：

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复杂性和连贯性：整合大脑中的信息

高等哺乳动物的大脑是非凡的综合装置。来自分布在许多大脑区域的大量功能特化神经元组的信号被整合，以生成一个连贯的、多模式的场景。来自环境的信号与持续的、模式化的神经活动相结合，为它们提供有意义的背景。我们回顾了神经生理学和神经影像学的最新进展，这些进展开始揭示整合的神经机制。此外，我们讨论了源自信息论的概念和措施，这些概念和措施为作为信息集成的复杂性概念提供了理论基础，并建议对这些概念进行新的实验测试。