Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id PAA27834 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Tue, 7 Mar 2000 15:37:47 GMT Message-ID: <B0000586784@htcompmail.htcomp.net> X-Sender: mmills@pop3.htcomp.net X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 4.0 Date: Tue, 07 Mar 2000 10:36:08 -0500 To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk From: "Mark M. Mills" <mmills@htcomp.net> Subject: Re: Cherkin on the mnemons In-Reply-To: <JILLAFNGDFAJDCAA@my-deja.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Scott,
At 04:48 PM 3/6/00 -0800, you wrote:
>He applies "mnemon" to an anatomical unit of memory, viz., a module
comprising an
>activated classifying neuron and its closely associated cells. This
specific application
>of "mnemon" is compatible with the general definition proposed in this
article." (eq)
Koch's 'Biophysics of Computation' doesn't use the term 'mnemon.' Instead,
he reviews 13 different physical mechanisms for memory instantiation. As
best I can tell, the fundamental building block would be called a 'receptor.'
In Kock's view, there is the substrate of neural chemistry and the flow of
binary signals across it. Koch describes neural abilities in terms of
'bits per second' transmission speeds. Every neural cell can be seen as an
independent computer, constantly making its own decisions, constantly
processing internal and external signals, constantly transmitting signals.
Just as in computers, there is the data in the 'bit stream'
(electromagnetic waves) and static electrical states recorded on physical
media (short term and long term memory).
The fastest physical media for memory storage which Koch describes is
autophosphorylating kinases. These reside on synapse membranes. They are
electrical gates and can flip from 'open' to 'shut' in less than a 1000th
of a second.
Do you think the mnemon term makes sense when signal processing concepts
seem most appropriate for study of neural function?
Mark
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