The Pattern of Neural Activity in the Brain

A single neuron firing in the somatosensory cortex might represent a muscle spindle in the biceps. And when that neuron fires, it means the biceps muscles being contracted. Just as a different neuron, firing might represent a pain receptor in your ankle. But in some, the firing of all of the receptors in your skin, muscles and joints is a pattern of activity which is the representation of the current state of the body. To hit a golf ball successfully, you do not need to fire every neuron that is needed. You just need to fire most of them.