Wiring the human brain (Introduction)

by David Turell @, Tuesday, April 10, 2012, 18:22 (4588 days ago)

A new MRI technique plus theoretically flattening out all the brain's convoluted layers shows a 3-D grid layered out much as an electrican would wire a building or a computer, each layer at 90 degrees from the next:-http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21647-human-brain-organised-like-a-3d-new-york-city-grid.html?cmpid=NLC|NSNS|2012-1004-GLOBAL|dn21647&utm_medium=NLC&utm_source=NSNS&utm_content=dn21647

Wiring the human brain

by Balance_Maintained @, U.S.A., Wednesday, April 11, 2012, 00:57 (4588 days ago) @ David Turell

Hrmmm not going to get to excited over this one yet. The methodology is too spotty and the claims to grandiose. I will reserve speculation until more research confirms this as the most likely case or banishes as another spin off of the publish or perish sci-fi world.

--
What is the purpose of living? How about, 'to reduce needless suffering. It seems to me to be a worthy purpose.

Wiring the human brain

by xeno6696 @, Sonoran Desert, Wednesday, April 11, 2012, 22:28 (4587 days ago) @ David Turell

A new MRI technique plus theoretically flattening out all the brain's convoluted layers shows a 3-D grid layered out much as an electrican would wire a building or a computer, each layer at 90 degrees from the next:
> 
> http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21647-human-brain-organised-like-a-3d-new-york-ci... the article: "But if a team led by Van Wedeen of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston is correct, this staggering complexity arises from a seductively simple underlying structure, revealed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). If you straighten out its folds, Wedeen argues, the brain consists of a three-dimensional grid of fibres."-"Moving up the primate tree, there are progressively more folds and curves, but the underlying grid structure remains."-In other words, we have to go through a computational "normalization" process in order to force the brains of more complex primates to adhere to the grid structure. -Note that this also implies that the difference between man and other primates is a difference of degree in terms of structure and not of kind.

--
\"Why is it, Master, that ascetics fight with ascetics?\"

\"It is, brahmin, because of attachment to views, adherence to views, fixation on views, addiction to views, obsession with views, holding firmly to views that ascetics fight with ascetics.\"

Wiring the human brain

by David Turell @, Thursday, April 12, 2012, 04:39 (4587 days ago) @ xeno6696


> Note that this also implies that the difference between man and other primates is a difference of degree in terms of structure and not of kind.-Structure is one thing, consciousness is entirely different. Please separate the concepts. They are very different.

Wiring the human brain

by xeno6696 @, Sonoran Desert, Saturday, April 14, 2012, 15:21 (4584 days ago) @ David Turell


> > Note that this also implies that the difference between man and other primates is a difference of degree in terms of structure and not of kind.
> 
> Structure is one thing, consciousness is entirely different. Please separate the concepts. They are very different.-The hypothesis that consciousness arises as a direct consequence of the brain's structure has yet to be verified/refuted. -There is no logical basis to claim they're different unless you're talking about an "inner" analysis (analyzing your own mind) and an "outer" analysis (analyzing PET scans of your own brain.)

--
\"Why is it, Master, that ascetics fight with ascetics?\"

\"It is, brahmin, because of attachment to views, adherence to views, fixation on views, addiction to views, obsession with views, holding firmly to views that ascetics fight with ascetics.\"

Wiring the human brain

by David Turell @, Saturday, April 14, 2012, 15:31 (4584 days ago) @ xeno6696


> > > Note that this also implies that the difference between man and other primates is a difference of degree in terms of structure and not of kind.
> > 
> > Structure is one thing, consciousness is entirely different. Please separate the concepts. They are very different.
> 
> The hypothesis that consciousness arises as a direct consequence of the brain's structure has yet to be verified/refuted. 
> 
> There is no logical basis to claim they're different unless you're talking about an "inner" analysis (analyzing your own mind) and an "outer" analysis (analyzing PET scans of your own brain.)-I am talking about inner analysis. The issue is the difference between animal consciousness and ours. They have similar brain structure. Why is our consciousness so different? So vastly different. And I agree. No one knows how consciousness appears or where it is based, expecially in view of NDE's.

Wiring the human brain

by xeno6696 @, Sonoran Desert, Sunday, April 15, 2012, 02:28 (4584 days ago) @ David Turell


> > > > Note that this also implies that the difference between man and other primates is a difference of degree in terms of structure and not of kind.
> > > 
> > > Structure is one thing, consciousness is entirely different. Please separate the concepts. They are very different.
> > 
> > The hypothesis that consciousness arises as a direct consequence of the brain's structure has yet to be verified/refuted. 
> > 
> > There is no logical basis to claim they're different unless you're talking about an "inner" analysis (analyzing your own mind) and an "outer" analysis (analyzing PET scans of your own brain.)
> 
> I am talking about inner analysis. The issue is the difference between animal consciousness and ours. They have similar brain structure. Why is our consciousness so different? So vastly different. And I agree. No one knows how consciousness appears or where it is based, expecially in view of NDE's.-Despite Adler, I'm still with dhw. I'm not convinced that aside from abstract language, the differences are that profound. Even squids have been shown to have the capacity for inference and syntactical structures based on body language. -Nietzsche often warned to be "aware, the seduction of language!" Adler should have read more Nietzsche! ;-)

--
\"Why is it, Master, that ascetics fight with ascetics?\"

\"It is, brahmin, because of attachment to views, adherence to views, fixation on views, addiction to views, obsession with views, holding firmly to views that ascetics fight with ascetics.\"

Wiring the human brain

by David Turell @, Sunday, April 15, 2012, 05:21 (4584 days ago) @ xeno6696

how consciousness appears or where it is based, expecially in view of NDE's.
> 
> Despite Adler, I'm still with dhw. I'm not convinced that aside from abstract language, the differences are that profound. Even squids have been shown to have the capacity for inference and syntactical structures based on body language. -Would you rather be a squid. A minor ability by a squid and you go all gogo-gaga. Baboons can pick out some four leter words. Big deal. Want to limit yourself to baboon thought? Know any chimp that can do the computer programming you do? It is not just abstract language; this is a tiny part of the mental differences.

Wiring the human brain

by xeno6696 @, Sonoran Desert, Sunday, April 15, 2012, 13:27 (4583 days ago) @ David Turell

how consciousness appears or where it is based, expecially in view of NDE's.
> > 
> > Despite Adler, I'm still with dhw. I'm not convinced that aside from abstract language, the differences are that profound. Even squids have been shown to have the capacity for inference and syntactical structures based on body language. 
> 
> Would you rather be a squid. A minor ability by a squid and you go all gogo-gaga. Baboons can pick out some four leter words. Big deal. Want to limit yourself to baboon thought? Know any chimp that can do the computer programming you do? It is not just abstract language; this is a tiny part of the mental differences.-You're also forgetting that a slang word for what I am is "code monkey!" ;-)-The difference IS abstract language. The foundational root of *everything* we know and do begins with language. Without symbolic abstraction, we're chimps.

--
\"Why is it, Master, that ascetics fight with ascetics?\"

\"It is, brahmin, because of attachment to views, adherence to views, fixation on views, addiction to views, obsession with views, holding firmly to views that ascetics fight with ascetics.\"

Wiring the human brain

by David Turell @, Sunday, April 15, 2012, 15:46 (4583 days ago) @ xeno6696


> You're also forgetting that a slang word for what I am is "code monkey!" ;-)
> 
> The difference IS abstract language. The foundational root of *everything* we know and do begins with language. Without symbolic abstraction, we're chimps.-It is a difference, but abstract language doesn't explain Shakespeare or dhw and his writings. All those monkeys typing away don't get one important word of a sonnet.

Wiring the human brain

by xeno6696 @, Sonoran Desert, Monday, April 16, 2012, 00:52 (4583 days ago) @ David Turell


> > You're also forgetting that a slang word for what I am is "code monkey!" ;-)
> > 
> > The difference IS abstract language. The foundational root of *everything* we know and do begins with language. Without symbolic abstraction, we're chimps.
> 
> It is a difference, but abstract language doesn't explain Shakespeare or dhw and his writings. All those monkeys typing away don't get one important word of a sonnet.-You're talking past me again. -Shakespeare is possible *only* because of abstract language, and our creative use of it. Creativity is nothing special: See something you've seen before, and apply it in a different circumstance. Language provides the bed to create culture, which then provides us with the means of memory and innovation. -Have you ever wondered why science is iterative?

--
\"Why is it, Master, that ascetics fight with ascetics?\"

\"It is, brahmin, because of attachment to views, adherence to views, fixation on views, addiction to views, obsession with views, holding firmly to views that ascetics fight with ascetics.\"

Wiring the human brain

by David Turell @, Monday, April 16, 2012, 15:40 (4582 days ago) @ xeno6696


> Shakespeare is possible *only* because of abstract language, and our creative use of it. Creativity is nothing special: See something you've seen before, and apply it in a different circumstance. Language provides the bed to create culture, which then provides us with the means of memory and innovation. -
And only our brain has the ability for abstract language. While baboons can spot 4 letter words. Just a tiny gap?

Wiring the human brain

by dhw, Monday, April 16, 2012, 17:18 (4582 days ago) @ David Turell

MATT: The difference IS abstract language. The foundational root of "everything" we know and do begins with language. Without symbolic abstraction, we're chimps.-DAVID: It is a difference, but abstract language doesn't explain Shakespeare or dhw and his writings. All those monkeys typing away don't get one important word of a sonnet.-I am deeply flattered by being bracketed with the divine Shakespeare, and therefore hesitate to ruin my image by joining in this dispute between you mere mortals. However, duty calls.-The basic discussion is about whether humans are different from other animals "in kind or degree". The distinction is clearly of great importance to a theist who believes that humans are God's chosen species. We have to be different to merit such a status. For a deist who believes in an impersonal God, and for an atheist who believes in no God, the subject will presumably elicit a shrug of the shoulders ... who cares? For an agnostic like me, who doesn't know whether there is or isn't a God, it only carries weight in relation to the mystery of consciousness, which helps to keep all avenues open, and so that is the line I would like to follow.-I believe in common descent ... that is to say, all species have sprung from earlier species. I do not believe that humans magically sprang from nowhere (and I know David doesn't either). Consequently, I view humans as a species of animal, and although over the millennia we have increasingly disguised our animal nature with the cloak of civilization, we remain inextricably tied to the basic animal requirements of reproduction, survival, the need for food, protection against the environment and against our enemies, training for life etc. Our hospitals, houses, department stores, war machines, schools etc. are all sophisticated extensions of these basic needs. -What sets us apart from other animals is the level of our awareness. I don't think this was caused by language. I think language is its product. Just as we find technology to solve material problems, we find sounds to solve problems of communication. Whether changes in the biological machinery (vocal chords, larynx, tongue etc.) preceded or led to this facility (mutations permitting progress, or body adapting to new requirements) we don't know, because none of us understand the mechanisms of adaptation and innovation. This awareness has clearly taken us into regions far beyond the scope of our fellow animals. We don't just examine our environment in order to survive physically, but we do so in order to find out about ourselves, our origins, our nature. Birds sing to attract a mate or convey a message, cubs play hunting games to prepare for the real thing ... their actions serve practical purposes. We do the same in our sophisticated way, but we also sing for the sake of the song, and we play for the sake of the excitement. And so I see all our actions as extensions of our animal selves ... extensions that our extra layers of consciousness have taken to technological, philosophical, artistic levels that are so distant from their original source that we no longer even see them as extensions. And so I would conclude, with almost Shakespearian comprehensiveness, impartiality and profundity, that human consciousness is different from that of other animals by such a degree that some people might even consider it to be different in kind.

Wiring the human brain

by David Turell @, Monday, April 16, 2012, 18:08 (4582 days ago) @ dhw

I am deeply flattered by being bracketed with the divine Shakespeare, and therefore hesitate to ruin my image by joining in this dispute between you mere mortals. However, duty calls.
> And so I would conclude, with almost Shakespearian comprehensiveness, impartiality and profundity, that human consciousness is different from that of other animals by such a degree that some people might even consider it to be different in kind.-I guess my flattery worked. I agree with you about language, and disagree with Matt.

Wiring the human brain

by David Turell @, Thursday, October 18, 2012, 15:29 (4397 days ago) @ David Turell

A new lab technique to get to actual wiring and firing rather than the block analysis of fMRI:-http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-brain-circuit-diagram-method-neurons.html-"The human brain consists of around 80 billion neurons, none of which lives or functions in isolation. The neurons form a tight-knit network that they use to exchange signals with each other. The arrangement of the connections between the neurons is far from arbitrary, and understanding which neurons connect with each other promises to provide valuable information about how the brain works."

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