Dear members,
I would like to bring to your attention a newly available manuscript
that dives into the mind-body problem using the approaches of
cybernetics.
The proposed theory describes the interaction between neurons,
plasticity, genetics, and other biological phenomena in terms of
feedback loops closed with the environment. This effort has a
wonderful result: One can identify a missing component of today's
brain theories--a component that is the "missing link" for
explaining how mental phenomena emerge from physical events, and
which is a result that could not be obtained with the classical
"representational" approach.
Those who intend to take a look at the manuscript, be prepare to
think about neuronal activity differently than you are used to. You
will need to make mental images of closed feedback loops, systems
permeable to their environments at all levels of their organization,
and components controlling properties of other components. You will
also need to exercise the thoughts of certain components located low
on the hierarchy, such as genes, induce cybernetic knowledge of
other components located higher on the hierarchy, such as the
sensory-motor loops.
The manuscript provides a general theory of what it takes for such
adaptive systems to achieve biological-like intelligent behavior.
The paper is available at arXiv.org
but it can also be downloaded from my website:
http://www.danko-nikolic.com/practopoiesis/
Also, the manuscript has began its search for a home in a journal.
(It will need some luck, so you may well wish it a good luck.)
Suggestions for improvements and feedback are most welcome.
With warm greetings from Germany,
Danko
--
Danko Nikolic, Ph.D.
Web: http://www.danko-nikolic.com
Mail address 1:
Department of Neurophysiology
Max Planck Institut for Brain Research
Deutschordenstr. 46
60528 Frankfurt am Main
GERMANY
Mail address 2:
Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies
Wolfgang Goethe University
Ruth-Moufang-Str. 1
60433 Frankfurt am Main
GERMANY
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Office: (..49-69) 96769-736
Lab: (..49-69) 96769-209
Fax: (..49-69) 96769-327
danko.nikolic@gmail.com
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