X-Message-Number: 2704 From: (Thomas Donaldson) Subject: CRYONICS: re #2700-2702 Date: Wed, 27 Apr 1994 00:22:03 -0700 (PDT) Hi again: One interesting book in computer science (that subset of it which deals with neural nets) may ring some bells with anyone who believes in a "self-circuit". Pentti Kanerva in SPARSE DISTRIBUTED MEMORY discusses a model of memory which includes something which might reasonably be called a "self-circuit". It seems to improve the efficiency of that memory. Hmm. Naturally, of course, to understand how we ourselves work we must actually get down and look at real neurons making real connections. A simulation proves very little... particularly because we are quite complicated and no current simulation has come anywhere close. But the suggestion of a "self-circuit" IS there, with some added ideas about how it might work and why it may have evolved. Long long life, Thomas Donaldson PS: I reviewed this book in CRYONICS several years ago. Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=2704