Neural and mental hierarchies

The history of the sciences of the human brain and mind has been characterized from the beginning by two parallel traditions. The prevailing theory that still influences the way current neuroimaging techniques interpret brain function, can be traced back to classical localizational theories, which in turn go back to early phrenological theories. The other approach has its origins in the hierarchical neurological theories of Hughlings-Jackson, which have been influenced by the philosophical conceptions of Herbert Spencer. Another hallmark of the hierarchical tradition, which is also inherent to psychoanalytic metapsychology, is its deeply evolutionary perspective by taking both ontogenetic and phylogenetic trajectories into consideration. This article provides an outline on hierarchical concepts in brain and mind sciences, which contrast with current cognitivistic and non-hierarchical theories in the neurosciences

7-Tesla MRI demonstrates absence of structural lesions in patients with vestibular paroxysmia

Vestibular parxoysmia is rare vestibular disorder. A neurovascular cross-compression between the vestibulochochlear nerve and an artery seems to be responsible for short attacks of vertigo in this entity. A neurovascular cross-compression can be seen in up to every fourth subject. The significance of these findings is not clear, as not all subjects suffer from symptoms. The aim of the present study was to assess possible structural lesions of the vestibulocochlear nerve by means of high field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and whether high field MRI may help to differentiate symptomatic from asymptomatic patients. 7 Tesla MRI was performed in six patients with vestibular paroxysmia and confirmed neurovascular cross-compression seen on 1.5 and 3.0 MRI. No structural abnormalities were detected in any of the patients in 7 Tesla MRI. These findings imply that high field MRI does not help to differentiate between symptomatic and asymptomatic neurovascular cross-compression and that the symptoms of vestibular paroxysmia are not caused by structural nerve lesions. This supports the hypothesis that the nystagmus associated with vestibular paroxysmia has to be conceived pathophysiologically as an excitatory vestibular phenomenon, being not related to vestibular hypofunction. 7 Tesla MRI outperforms conventional MRI in image resolution and may be useful in vestibular disorders