Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id AAA02309 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Tue, 25 Jul 2000 00:18:13 +0100 Message-Id: <4.3.1.0.20000724182301.00f55100@pop3.htcomp.net> X-Sender: mmills@pop3.htcomp.net X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 4.3.1 Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 19:15:23 -0400 To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk From: "Mark M. Mills" <mmills@htcomp.net> Subject: Simple neural models In-Reply-To: <LPBBICPHCJJBPJGHGMCICEIACHAA.ddiamond@ozemail.com.au> References: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D310174594A@inchna.stir.ac.uk> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
At 10:33 AM 7/22/00 +1000, you wrote:
>You see, you miss the point totally. You are stuck at the level of
>expression and so incapable of seeing BEHIND the I ching symbol. What does
>it REPRESENT? It represents a neurologically determined general pattern of
>meaning.
Chris,
Can you use your template system to describe neural signal exchange between
two adjacent cells?
I'm looking at this in evolutionary terms, imagining a simple multicelled,
DNA based organism. The simplest model might be a 'gut' cell connected to a
'muscle' cell, where both cells possessed simple synapse modality
(autophosphoralating kinases and cadherins). Exchanging even random charge
states across their synapse membranes would produce signal-response
behaviors, something we would later call 'gut' and 'muscle' behavior). The
model would have 2 types of cells and 1 synapse. Anyway, the sensation of
certain chemical levels at the 'gut' end might trigger spasmodic
contraction at the 'muscle' end, moving things about in the gut (or fleshy
body), providing selective advantage.
The conduction/non-conduction state of the synapse would be a reflection of
previous charge-states, thus the binary representation of synapse states
are memetic (neural-meme definition used), not genetic.
It seems that notions such as 'object' and 'context' make sense in this
simple model. The 'gut' cell might generate an impulse stimulating muscle
contraction based on specific interior chemical changes (object sense?) or
due to an system wide electrical balance requirements (context
requirement). While the system might provide selective advantage with
random signals, signal discrimination (the template) provides immediate
selective advantage in terms of energy conservation and tissue maintenance.
Gerald Edelman describes some simple neural models in 'Neural Darwinism',
but I haven't seen any use of a natural binary discrimination scheme like
yours to suggest how they might 'work' to provide selective advantage.
Scott Chase has expressed on interest in neural 'memory units' and it is
possible he would see a memory unit in my model. Since the synapse can be
either 'on' or 'off' with respect to conducting, there is an inherent
memory storage system involved. Knowing the 'charge state' at one moment,
implies knowing the previous state. Voila!, memetic memory.
Mark
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