Simultaneous order in nervous nets from a functional standpoint (Q791456)

The functional order of neural elements is defined through a cross- correlation structure of signals carried by the nervous elements. Starting from an unordered set of elements E (the spatial ordering of elements is supposed to be unknown) and the covariance matrix of signals a poset of functionally different blocks (subsets of E) is constructed. A lattice structure of geometrically motivated notions as districts, regions and connected structures is studied. It is shown how the functional order can be interpreted in these geometrical terms. Some speculations on optic nerve structure are derived.