cell assembly

a group of neurons that are repeatedly active at the same time and develop as a single functional unit, which may become active when any of its constituent neurons is stimulated. This enables, for example, a person to form a complete mental image of an object when only a portion is visible or to recall a memory from a partial cue. Cell assembly is influential in biological theories of learning and memory. [proposed in 1949 by Donald O. Hebb]

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Psychology term of the day

December 22nd 2024

musical interval

the pitch or frequency spacing between two sounds. Two sounds that are an octave apart (i.e., with an interval of an octave) have a 2:1 ratio of their fundamental frequencies. See also cent.