[MURG] Brain Emulation

[Thomas Weber]

 --- "Joseph J. Strout" <joe at strout.net> wrote: > At
1:49 PM -0400 9/11/03, Thomas Weber wrote:
> 
> >I have just read the recommended by Mirco link
> >www.ad.com. It sounds to me like the future
> happening.
> 
> It seems like mostly hype to me.  I am skeptical
> that this company 
> will survive any longer than it takes them to burn
> through their 
> initial capital.  I admire what they're trying to
> do; I just doubt 
> that they can make any money doing it.
Thomas: Even if they don't make money they will
contribute to the progress. Once a system is invented
it cannot be un - invented. Another company will take 
the idea over and so it goes.
> 
> >Although they don't mention mind uploading this is
> in
> >my opinion a substantial step in the direction.
> 
> It doesn't seem related to me.
> 
> >  I have suggested earlier that mind uploading is
> not coppying
> >the brain, but emulating it,s function.
> 
> No, mind uploading is making a functional duplicate
> (copy) of a mind 
> (and therefore the brain).  Anything else is, at
> best, making a new 
> mind, which is a fine endeavor but not related to
> mind uploading. 
> Creating a new mind doesn't help *me* survive.
Thomas: Some time ago I have submitted a short essay
on the subject of "Defining the sense of self and
personal identity". I tried to suggest that the mind
is a process. That information process takes place in
the brain. The brain accomodates the process, but the
brain is not the mind. The mind can as well be
accomodated in microchips. As for creating a new mind
- why not? Why not take advantage of an opportunity to
expand and grow? As for *me* survive - if *me* is a
thought process and the process is upheld then yes
*me* will survive.
> 
> >Suppose a living brain and the cortex emulation
> system
> >are inter connected. This I visualize by means of
> >multiple micro - electrodes implanted in the brain.
> >In the beginning of the experiment the artificial
> >cortex is blank. Impulses flow to the system and
> from
> >the system to the brain. Eventually coherent
> >communication would be established.
> 
> What sort of communication?
Thomas: Essentially same kind of communication that
takes pace between different parts of the brain. In
this scenario the C Cortex makes an extention to the
brain just like a hammer is an extention to the hand.
The brain - C Cortex would become a unified  network 
partly neural and partly electronic.
  Where exactly do you
> envision this
> connection to take place? 
I envision some millions of microelectrodes
registering the activity of the cortex. In my own
perception the cortex works just like the computer
screen. The conscious thoughts are "displayed" on the
screen. I will stop here as my interest in MU is more
psychological and I am not a neuro scientist. When the
time comes you will be the one to tell us where to
connect it.
 Which senses are going to
> be overridden by 
> the artificial inputs, and which motor outputs are
> going to be 
> directed to the artificial device?
Thomas: It would start very gradually and eventually
all senses would be over ridden. In the very beginning
no senses would be overridden. Information would be
fed to the electronic system via human eyes and ears.
System's responses
would be communicated to the brain and then it would
be up to the human brain and body to execute motor
functions. As it goes more and more advanced improved
motoric functions will be desired. At that time the C
Cortex can be enhanced mechanically. The motor outputs
directed at the C Cortex will depend on the nature of
the selected mechanical enhancement.
> 
> I have no doubt that we could eventually make such a
> cyborg, but I 
> don't see that it has anything to do with uploading.
Thomas: As you have mentioned the word cyborg - yes
that would be the transition state. A cyborg is a
system partly biological and partly technological.
As I write this I envision a two body cyborg. It is a
pair of a human and his machine in a perfect intimate
harmony. The machine would carry an extention to the
human mind. Eventually the cyborg by getting rid of
the biological component will become 100% machine with
an uploaded post human mind.

Thomas
 

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