2 Brain and neuronal networks

The brain is the most complex system ever brought about by evolution. Therefore, many scientific disciplines strive for a better understanding of how this organi develops and allows a person to survive in a complex, ever changing surroundings. This seminar begins with a current overview of this rapidly growing field. On the basis of the brain processes involved in vision, the brain’s essential structures – in particular neurons and synapses – are presented. We then present contemporary ideas of how a living being’s experiences can be stored and processed in these neural networks. In our concluding outlook, we paint a picture of the brain-research findings to be expected in the near future and discuss the field’s current limits with regard to our understanding of mental processes.