The Neuron. QOTD Christina Noll Is "mind reading" possible? A. Yes B. No C. Possibly in the future...
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Transcript of The Neuron. QOTD Christina Noll Is "mind reading" possible? A. Yes B. No C. Possibly in the future...
The Neuron
QOTD
Christina Noll
Is "mind reading" possible?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Possibly in the future
(See movie: Strange Days, 1995)
Jason Castro
Are some emotions/impulses that helped early humans in life or death situations out of date for the modern human?
A. Yes
B. No
Linh Chung
The brain adapts and constantly changes in response to the changes in the environment as we learn, practice, and perceive sensory input. However, fMRI brain imaging technology shows that our brains make the decisions and/or actions before "we" do. Who's in charge - you or your brain?
a) I'm in charge
b) The brain
c) Both - They work together
d) Someone/something else
e) Not sure...
Zachary Arnold
The brain makes decisions before "we" do. Does free will actually exist?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Ask my brain..
D. I don’t know
Samantha Kerr
If I was to put Jim's brain in Sally's body, who would it be?
A. Sally
B. Jim
C. Neither
Madeline Montiel
If the mind were separate from the brain where would the mind be?
A. In the clouds
B. In a giant computer
C. In a different organ
D. Someone else generates it for us
E. ...
Emergence
(Now Imagine 10,000,000,000 gears, each interacting with 10,000 others..)
The Big Questions
What is the fundamental “unit” of cognition, and what does it do?? Neurons: they detect things, and share the results
How can simple detection produce complex cognition? Hierarchically-organized networks, lots of emergence
What are the biological mechanisms? Excitation vs. inhibition, salt, and synapses..
The Basic Unit of Cognition!?
Neurons are Detectors
Detector Model
Is it really all just detection?
Pandemonium!(Oliver Selfridge)
Feature Demons
1. Vertical Line: |
2. Horizontal Line: --
3. Up-Right Diagonal: /
4. Up-Left Diagonal: \
Cognitive Demons
5. T: 1,2
6. V: 3,4
7. A: 2,3,4
8. K: 1,3,4
Testing..
Testing..
Testing..
Testing..
Testing..
Testing..
Testing..
Testing..
Testing..
Ooops..
Ooops..
Ooops..
Ooops..
Pandemonium Summary
Maybe you can see how collective action of many detectors, organized hierarchically, could achieve more complex cognition?
But detection needs to be a lot more sophisticated..
31
Emer’s Brain: Detection Works!
Back to the Detector Model
How does it actually work?
The Tug-of-War
How strongly each guy pulls: I = g (E-Vm) = currentg = how many input channels are openE = driving potential (pull down for inhibition, up for excitation)Vm = the “flag” – reflects net balance between two sides
Relative Balance..
Equations (just for fun)!
36
The Synapse
The Full Story..
Let’s Talk about Dugs!
Most psychoactive drugs directly affect basic neural mechanisms, some in easy-to-understand ways.
Lets Talk Drugs..
A. I have used psychoactive drugs.
B. I have not used psychoactive drugs.
Rx
A. I have been diagnosed with a psychological disorder, and I am taking prescription meds for it.
B. I am taking prescription meds for a different type of disorder (not psych).
C. I am not taking prescription meds.
Rx
A. I am not taking prescription meds.
I am taking prescription meds, and the side effects are…
B. …minimal or nonexistent
C. …moderate
D. …severe
Other Rx
A. I have taken someone else’s prescription medication.
B. I have not taken someone else’s prescription medication.
Benzo, Valium, etc
Agonist for GABA inhibitory channels