[MURG] A repost - some questions

[Joseph J. Strout]

At 11:59 PM -0400 9/16/03, Thomas Weber wrote:

>What do we know about the activities of the brain
>surface - the cortex?

Well, quite a lot.  But keep in mind that the cortex is just a thin 
layer on the outer surface of the brain; it's not the majority of the 
brain, by any means.  (In fact, a majority of the neurons in your 
brain are in the cerebellum.)  It's important, but the rest of the 
brain is important too.

>Can we observe a consistent relationship between what
>we consciously experience including thinking and the
>activity of the cortex?

Yes, actually, there have been some neat experiments in that 
direction lately.  For example, if a subject looks at a distinct 
visual pattern, the pattern can actually be seen (roughly) in the 
activity of neurons in the primary visual cortex.  Higher up, there 
are neurons whose activity correspond to the conscious perception of 
an ambiguous stimulus.  And even cooler, by forcing the activity of 
some of those neurons (via electrodes), we can even bias the 
conscious percept one way or the other.

>If so then I don't think that it is necessary to
>connect electrodes to every brain cell aside from the
>fact  that this would dramatically alter or destroy
>the brain.

Agreed.

>I think there must be a less invasive way. I visualize
>a mesh of densely set electrodes placed like a beret
>on the cortex without damaging the cells in contact.

Hmm, you've lost me at this point.  I don't see how recording from or 
stimulating brain cells has anything at all to do with mind uploading 
(except perhaps as pure research supporting materialism, as if 
materialism needs any further support!).

Cheers,
- Joe

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