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The results of various recent and independent investigations show, unequivocally, that cerebral neocortex is continuously and spontaneously working, even without any afferent input. These findings suggest that neuronal microcircuits in the neocortex have autonomic activity and support the concept that some cognitive functions may be the result of the functional self-organisation among their cellular components. From a theoretical perspective, it is proposed that spontaneous neocortical activity can be explained not only by electrophysiological and synaptic mechanisms but also as the result of the close magnetic interactions between astrocytes and neighboring neurons. This neuron-astroglial bio-magnetic interplay may underlie spontaneous neocortical activity and consequently some "spontaneous" cognitive functions.

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