Editing Neural Darwinism (section)

=== The regulator hypothesis ===

In 1984, Edelman published his ''regulator hypothesis'' of CAM and SAM action in the development and evolution of the animal body plan.

Edelman would reiterate this hypothesis in his ''Neural Darwinism'' book in support of the mechanisms for degenerate neuronal group formation in the primary repertoire. The regulator hypothesis was primarily concerned with the action of CAMs. He would later expand the hypothesis in ''Topobiology'' to include a much more diverse and inclusive set of morphoregulatory molecules.