Tag Archives: human consciousness

November 3, 2015

Model Minds

mind model Last week we took a look at a simple computer software model of a human brain. (We discovered that it was big, requiring dozens of petabytes!) One goal of such models is replicating consciousness — a human mind. That can involve creating a (potentially superior) new mind or uploading an existing human mind (a very different goal).

Now that we’ve explored the basics of calculation, code (software), computers, and (computer software) models, we’re ready to explore what’s involved in attempting to model a (human) mind.

I’m dividing the possibilities into four basic levels.

18 Comments | tags: AI, algorithm, brain, computationalism, computer model, computer program, consciousness, enchanted loom, human brain, human consciousness, human mind, Isaac Asimov, mind, physicalism, positronic brain, qualia, René Descartes | posted in Computers

October 30, 2015

The Human Connectome

By Wyrd Smythe

brain connectome Last time we looked at the basic requirements for a software model of a computer and put a rough estimate on the size of such a model (about 2.5 terabytes). This time we’ll consider a software model of a human brain. Admittedly, there’s much we don’t know, and probably need for a decent model, but we can make some rough guesses as a reference point.

We’ll start with a few basic facts — number of neurons, number of synapses — and try to figure out some minimal requirements. The architecture of a viable software brain model is likely to be much more complicated. This is just a sketch, a Tinkertoy® or LEGO® version.

Even so, we’re gonna need a lot of memory!

10 Comments | tags: axon, computer model, dendrite, human brain, human connectome, human consciousness, human mind, long-term potentiation, LTP, neuron, petabyte, synapse, terabyte | posted in Computers