Chapter 5

Question 1

Global ignition and its neurotransmitters

Answer 1

Feedforward is AMPA receptors, Feedback is NMDA receptors, and lateral inhibition is GABA.
Global ignition consists of long range feedback connections (NMDA) and lateral inhibitory connections (GABA).
Integration of information happens via recurrent loops requiring NMDA and AMPA. Selection of information requires inhibition and uses GABA.

Question 2

Bistable perception and neurotransmitters

Answer 2

Strong inhibition means that activity will run for a longer time and less switches occur. This means concentration GABA as a measure of inhibition can link to perceptual dynamics of bistability.
Studies indeed show that pharmacological GABA interruptions of GABA agonists result in slower perceptual dynamics.