# A neuronal device for the control of multi-step computations

Abstract : We describe the operation of a neuronal device which embodies the computational principles of the "paper-and-pencil" machine envisioned by Alan Turing. The network is based on principles of cortical organization. We develop a plausible solution to implement pointers and investigate how neuronal circuits may instantiate the basic operations involved in assigning a value to a variable (i.e., $x$ = 5), in determining whether two variables have the same value and in retrieving the value of a given variable to be accessible to other nodes of the network. We exemplify the collective function of the network in simplified arithmetic and problem solving (blocks-world) tasks.
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Journal articles

Cited literature [57 references]

https://hal-cea.archives-ouvertes.fr/cea-02933065
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### Citation

Ariel Zylberberg, Luciano Paz, Pieter R. Roelfsema, Stanislas Dehaene, Mariano Sigman. A neuronal device for the control of multi-step computations. Papers in physics, 2013, 5, pp.050006. ⟨10.4279/PIP.050006⟩. ⟨cea-02933065⟩

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