In general, syntax (grammar) is a set of principles that govern the transformation and temporal progression of discrete elements (e.g., letters or musical notes) into ordered and hierarchical relations (e.g., words, phrases, sentences or chords, chord progression and keys) that allow for a congruous interpretation of the meaning of language or music by the brain (Pulvermüller, 2010). In addition to language and music, grouping or chunking the fundamentals by syntax allows for the generation of a virtually infinite number of combinations from a finite number of lexical elements using a minimal number of rules in sign, body, artificial and computer languages and mathematical logic (Port and Van Gelder, 1995; Wickelgren, 1999). Syntax is exploited in almost all systems where information is coded, transmitted and decoded (Figure 1B). By analogy, I suggest that in the brain distinct time-integrating (reader) mechanisms define the syntax of cell assembly organization and form assembly sequences of various lengths, compiled from strings of the fundamentals (i.e., from τ assemblies).8 As in language, the meaning of various strings of assemblies (or neuronal ‘trajectories; see below) depends on
