X-Message-Number: 26103 Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2005 10:54:38 -0400 From: Thomas Donaldson <> Subject: To Yvan, once more TO Yvan, once more: Your comments totally fail to answer my criticism of them. One millisecond does not equal instantaneously, no matter how much computer and mathematical jargon you through at it. Your idea of connecting neurons with light or radio or whatever (lasers?) may appear a bit better founded, until you really start thinking about exactly how this will work. You're going to need considerable devices on each neuron for each neuron to be able to communicate with (as sometimes happens, but admittedly not always) as many as 10,000 others. Sounds to me like a good way to slow all your hyperfast chips down a bit. Putting them on the Net would be even worse, in terms of speed. Just how your artificial brain will grow NEW neurons remains a question you haven't yet come close to answering. Look here. It's not that I think that biological methods must necessarily be used to create a working conscious brain. I do think, though, that we'll need devices with some of the major traits of biological devices: growth and multiplication among them. Admittedly, even most neuroscientists thought only 15 years ago that neurons remained unchange- able once we'd grown to adulthood. The early observations of neuron growth, change, and creation of new neurons caused almos neuroscientists to pour scorn upon the discoverors. But guess who won in the end. Best wishes and long long life to all, Thomas Donaldson Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=26103