Model of attentional brain function

The authors model the brain stem as two layers of purely excitatory and inhibitory cells, with a time delay in transmission of information between the layers. The response to a localized afferent impulse is a strong function of this inhibitory delay, at first showing increased amplification as the delay increases, but at larger delays showing increased convection away from the impulse location. These features are consistent with the function of the brain stem in regulating attentional levels and have possible implications for the understanding of higher brain mechanisms.<>