Statistical mechanics of neocortical interactions: Stability and duration of the 7±2 rule of short-term-memory capacity

Abstract

This paper is an essential addendum to a previous paper [L. Ingber, Phys. Rev. A 29, 3346 (1984)]. Calculations are presented here to support the claim made in the previous paper that there exists an approximate one-dimensional solution to the two-dimensional neocortical Fokker-Planck equation. This solution is extremely useful, not only for obtaining a closed algebraic expression for the time of first passage, but also for establishing that minima of the associated path-integral stationary Lagrangian are indeed stable points of the transient dynamic system. Also, a relatively nontechnical summary is given of the basic theory.