Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id XAA27206 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Sun, 24 Dec 2000 23:51:49 GMT Message-Id: <5.0.2.1.0.20001223155617.01f94a30@pop3.htcomp.net> X-Sender: mmills@pop3.htcomp.net X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 5.0.2 Date: Sat, 23 Dec 2000 16:21:03 -0600 To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk From: Mark Mills <mmills@htcomp.net> Subject: Memes and instincts In-Reply-To: <3A3FE7BE.5050902@ihug.co.nz> References: <A4400389479FD3118C9400508B0FF2300411A8@DELTA.newhouse.akzonobel.nl> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Misy,
At 11:57 AM 12/20/00 +1300, you wrote:
>Is it possible that "instincts" are in fact primitive memes, and therefore
>a babies behaviour is selected for in order to illicit as much parental
>care as is necessary in order to survive infanthood?
Just wanted to plug the neural meme perspective.
First, I think it fair to say 'instinctive behavior' is phenotypic to
genotypic neural topology. For example, if we call a newly hatched
turtle's attempts to find the sea 'instinctive behavior,' it is fair to
expect some neural tissue topology exists which generates the
behavior. Genotype and phenotype notions work fine.
We don't know enough about neural tissue dynamics to 'locate' the turtle's
neural genotype, but it seems fair to anticipate discovery of such things
in the next 50 to 100 years.
We know that neural tissue topology is largely stochastic rather than DNA
based, so when we discover turtle behavior's neural genotype, it will
probably be free of DNA 'settings.' Edelman suggests neural tissue
topology is configured via 'neuronal group selection', a process by which
groups of neurons compete for control and resources. Winning neuronal
groups grow, losers wither. (see Topobiology or Neural Darwinism)
Edelman is suggesting instincts are the product of self-organization, not
DNA sequences. This seems to allude to a memetic source, something
independent of DNA. Perhaps this means the genotypic neural source of
instinctive behavior is like memes, only established by internal
self-organization rather than the neural meme's cultural sources. In this
sense, the instinct's genotype might be described as a primitive meme.
Mark
http://www.htcomp.net/markmills
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