{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,12]],"date-time":"2026-06-12T03:42:40Z","timestamp":1781235760615,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":91,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[1972,12,1]],"date-time":"1972-12-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":92016000000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Perception"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[1972,12]]},"abstract":"<jats:p> The problem discussed is the relationship between the firing of single neurons in sensory pathways and subjectively experienced sensations. The conclusions are formulated as the following five dogmas: <\/jats:p><jats:p> To understand nervous function one needs to look at interactions at a cellular level, rather than either a more macroscopic or microscopic level, because behaviour depends upon the organized pattern of these intercellular interactions. The sensory system is organized to achieve as complete a representation of the sensory stimulus as possible with the minimum number of active neurons. Trigger features of sensory neurons are matched to redundant patterns of stimulation by experience as well as by developmental processes. Perception corresponds to the activity of a small selection from the very numerous high-level neurons, each of which corresponds to a pattern of external events of the order of complexity of the events symbolized by a word. High impulse frequency in such neurons corresponds to high certainty that the trigger feature is present. <\/jats:p><jats:p> The development of the concepts leading up to these speculative dogmas, their experimental basis, and some of their limitations are discussed. <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1068\/p010371","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2007,1,23]],"date-time":"2007-01-23T15:14:40Z","timestamp":1169565280000},"page":"371-394","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1308,"title":["Single Units and Sensation: A Neuron Doctrine for Perceptual Psychology?"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"1","author":[{"given":"H B","family":"Barlow","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiology-Anatomy, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[1972,12,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"bibr1-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.1926.sp002273"},{"key":"bibr2-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.1926.sp002334"},{"key":"bibr3-p010371","volume-title":"The Basis of Sensation","author":"Adrian E. D.","year":"1928"},{"key":"bibr4-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.1941.sp003932"},{"key":"bibr5-p010371","volume-title":"The physical background of perception","author":"Adrian E. D.","year":"1947"},{"key":"bibr6-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.1926.sp002281"},{"key":"bibr7-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.1926.sp002308"},{"key":"bibr8-p010371","first-page":"143","volume-title":"Harvey Lectures 1938","author":"Bard P.","year":"1938"},{"key":"bibr9-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.1953.sp004829"},{"key":"bibr10-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1364\/JOSA.46.000634"},{"key":"bibr11-p010371","first-page":"331","volume-title":"Current Problems in Animal Behaviour","author":"Barlow H. B.","year":"1960"},{"key":"bibr12-p010371","first-page":"217","volume-title":"Sensory Communication","author":"Barlow H. B.","year":"1961"},{"key":"bibr13-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1749-6632.1969.tb14019.x"},{"key":"bibr14-p010371","first-page":"209","volume-title":"Information Processing in the Nervous System","author":"Barlow H. B.","year":"1969"},{"key":"bibr15-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.1967.sp008360"},{"key":"bibr16-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/2001347a0"},{"key":"bibr17-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.1957.sp005817"},{"key":"bibr18-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/2001345a0"},{"key":"bibr19-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.1964.sp007463"},{"key":"bibr20-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0042-6989(71)90033-2"},{"key":"bibr21-p010371","first-page":"98","volume":"218","author":"Barlow H. B.","year":"1971","journal-title":"J. Physiol."},{"key":"bibr22-p010371","first-page":"471","volume-title":"The Neurosciences: Second Study Program","author":"Bishop P. O.","year":"1970"},{"key":"bibr23-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.1969.sp008862"},{"key":"bibr24-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/228477a0"},{"key":"bibr25-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/241467a0"},{"key":"bibr26-p010371","volume-title":"An Investigation of the Laws of Thought","author":"Boole G.","year":"1854"},{"key":"bibr27-p010371","volume-title":"Sensation and perception in the history of experimental psychology","author":"Boring E. G.","year":"1942"},{"key":"bibr28-p010371","volume-title":"The uncertain nervous system","author":"Burns B.","year":"1968"},{"key":"bibr29-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.1965.sp007784"},{"key":"bibr30-p010371","first-page":"377","volume":"11","author":"Cragg B. G.","year":"1972","journal-title":"Investigative Ophthalmology"},{"key":"bibr31-p010371","volume-title":"The Nature of Explanation","author":"Craik K. J. W.","year":"1943"},{"key":"bibr32-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1085\/jgp.43.6.115"},{"key":"bibr33-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1364\/JOSA.56.000966"},{"key":"bibr34-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1152\/jn.1967.30.3.415"},{"key":"bibr35-p010371","volume-title":"What Computers Can't Do","author":"Dreyfus H. L.","year":"1972"},{"key":"bibr36-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.1966.sp008107"},{"key":"bibr37-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1159\/000125462"},{"key":"bibr38-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/00006324-194804000-00002"},{"key":"bibr39-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.173.3991.11"},{"key":"bibr40-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1152\/jn.1944.7.5.287"},{"key":"bibr41-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1152\/jn.1944.7.5.287"},{"key":"bibr42-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.108.2810.513"},{"key":"bibr43-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1152\/jn.1970.33.6.768"},{"key":"bibr44-p010371","volume-title":"The Sensory Mechanisms of the Retina","author":"Granit R.","year":"1947"},{"key":"bibr45-p010371","first-page":"161","volume":"65","author":"Granit R.","year":"1939","journal-title":"Upsala L\u00e4karef F\u00e4rh."},{"key":"bibr46-p010371","volume-title":"Signal Detection Theory and Psychophysics","author":"Green D. M.","year":"1966"},{"key":"bibr47-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1152\/jn.1972.35.1.96"},{"key":"bibr48-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/BF00298808"},{"key":"bibr49-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1152\/ajplegacy.1938.121.2.400"},{"key":"bibr50-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1152\/ajplegacy.1940.130.4.690"},{"key":"bibr51-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1152\/ajplegacy.1940.130.4.700"},{"key":"bibr52-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1085\/jgp.25.6.819"},{"key":"bibr53-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.168.3933.869"},{"key":"bibr54-p010371","first-page":"509","volume":"13","author":"Hirsch H. V. B.","year":"1971","journal-title":"Exp. Brain Res."},{"key":"bibr55-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.1959.sp006308"},{"key":"bibr56-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.1962.sp006837"},{"key":"bibr57-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1152\/jn.1963.26.6.994"},{"key":"bibr58-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1152\/jn.1965.28.6.1041"},{"key":"bibr59-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.1970.sp009022"},{"key":"bibr60-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1085\/jgp.43.6.63"},{"key":"bibr61-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1159\/000125522"},{"key":"bibr62-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0042-6989(71)90057-5"},{"key":"bibr63-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1152\/jn.1953.16.1.37"},{"key":"bibr64-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/10017-000"},{"key":"bibr65-p010371","volume-title":"Symposium of the Society for Experimental Biology","author":"Lashley K. S.","year":"1950"},{"key":"bibr66-p010371","first-page":"1940","volume":"47","author":"Lettvin J. Y.","year":"1959","journal-title":"Proc. Inst. Rad. Eng."},{"key":"bibr67-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.1967.sp008140"},{"key":"bibr68-p010371","volume-title":"The Analysis of Sensations, and the Relation of the Physical to the Psychical","author":"Mach E.","year":"1886"},{"key":"bibr69-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1152\/jn.1941.4.1.1"},{"key":"bibr70-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1085\/jgp.43.6.129"},{"key":"bibr71-p010371","first-page":"611","volume-title":"Mechanisation of Thought Processes: Proceedings of a Symposium Held at the National Physical Laboratory","volume":"2","author":"McCulloch W. S.","year":"1959"},{"key":"bibr72-p010371","unstructured":"Pettigrew J. D. (forthcoming), \u201cThe effect of visual experience on the development of stimulus specificity by kitten cortical neurons\u201d"},{"key":"bibr73-p010371","unstructured":"Pettigrew J. D., Freeman R. (forthcoming), \u201cVisual experience without lines: Effect on developing cortical neurones\u201d"},{"key":"bibr74-p010371","first-page":"391","volume":"6","author":"Pettigrew J. D.","year":"1968","journal-title":"Exp. Brain Res."},{"key":"bibr75-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/jcp.1030170209"},{"key":"bibr76-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1152\/jn.1955.18.5.429"},{"key":"bibr77-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.1972.sp009838"},{"key":"bibr78-p010371","volume-title":"The mathematical theory of communication","author":"Shannon C. E.","year":"1949"},{"key":"bibr79-p010371","volume-title":"Man on His Nature","author":"Sherrington C. S.","year":"1941"},{"key":"bibr80-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.173.3997.638"},{"key":"bibr81-p010371","first-page":"338","volume":"11","author":"Stone J.","year":"1972","journal-title":"Invest. Ophthal."},{"key":"bibr82-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1749-6632.1958.tb39560.x"},{"key":"bibr83-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1152\/jn.1968.31.2.301"},{"key":"bibr84-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/h0058700"},{"key":"bibr85-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1085\/jgp.43.6.45"},{"key":"bibr86-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1152\/jn.1963.26.6.1003"},{"key":"bibr87-p010371","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1152\/jn.1965.28.6.1029"},{"key":"bibr88-p010371","first-page":"1","volume":"1","author":"Wohlgemuth A.","year":"1911","journal-title":"Brit. J. Psychol."},{"key":"bibr89-p010371","volume-title":"Probability and Information Theory with Applications to Radar","author":"Woodward P. M.","year":"1953"},{"key":"bibr90-p010371","volume-title":"Eye Movements and Vision","author":"Yarbus A. L.","year":"1965"},{"key":"bibr91-p010371","volume-title":"Current Problems in Animal Behaviour","author":"Zangwill O. L.","year":"1961"}],"container-title":["Perception"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1068\/p010371","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1068\/p010371","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,11]],"date-time":"2025-03-11T01:35:19Z","timestamp":1741656919000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1068\/p010371"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[1972,12]]},"references-count":91,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-print":{"date-parts":[[1972,12]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1068\/p010371"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1068\/p010371","relation":{},"ISSN":["0301-0066","1468-4233"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0301-0066","type":"print"},{"value":"1468-4233","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[1972,12]]}}}