A neural framework for the origin of meaning: network dynamics, context and the hippocampus
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences July 9, 2026 Andrew P. Maurer, Sara Burke, Mary A. Peterson et al.
How does the brain generate meaning from the continuous flow of sensory input? We propose that meaning is not the product of isolated regions or circuits but an emergent property of large-scale recurrently connected networks in which the hippocampus plays a pivotal role. Drawing from cognitive science, developmental studies and systems neuroscience, we outline five key principles by which the...