Re: The guy who stopped Go Programming Development ...

Renli wrote:
On Aug 2, 5:20 pm, "Frank de Groot" <fr...@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Congratulations though, for finding something, after days of Googling, that
mentions "analog" in relation to neurons!

It actually only took me a few seconds. And if you read the rest of
the article it gives other examples of how the analog components work.
There are also many other chemicals which affect the brain which
operate on an analog scale.

I don't think anyone is seriously considering that the brain is a
digital device frank, regardless if on one level it tries to
approximate a digital system (which only makes sense since a logic
circuit is a yes or no proposition).

-


It's a silly dichotomy. Analog just means an unknown, reasonably large, number of input states.

In principle, ALL systems are digital in that they are affected by a finite, i.e., countable, number of states so the argument becomes: "Which is the most appropriate term to use?" and that is, of course, contextual.


While the common model of an axon's signal is that it is a single pulse of a set amplitude, to characterize that as "digital" ignores the fact that this pulse occurs at an "infinitely" variable frequency between 0 and, say, 100.

At best, you can say that a neuron is an analog-to-digital converter, but that ignores the variable frequency component. Digital audio as found in CDs, does NOT have an unlimited range of frequencies available, though the number is quite large, about 16-20K.

Does this make digital audio "digital" or "analog?"

Depends on the context, although since the number is fixed, its easier to argue the "digital" answer.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Dubious analogs (was Symbol Grounding Problem)
    ... The paper didn't discuss real neurons but rather model neurons. ... resolution in space and time against resolution in intensity. ... You mentioned analog devices. ...
    (comp.ai.philosophy)
  • Re: Gould vs. Dawkins
    ... acquiring Kandel's Neural Science from the university library as ... The most important thing about a neurons and the way it interacts ... the full analog processing capabilities of real neurons. ... I got my start in analog signalling ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Gould vs. Dawkins
    ... acquiring Kandel's Neural Science from the university library as ... The most important thing about a neurons and the way it interacts ... the full analog processing capabilities of real neurons. ... binary and analog signalling can also be discontinuous at points. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: What evidence is there that a neuron is digital computer ?
    ... Your cells (including neurons) ... Digital data has advantages over ... analog data that is why we have replaced our analog ... electronics with digital electronics. ...
    (comp.ai.philosophy)
  • Re: Gould vs. Dawkins
    ... acquiring Kandel's Neural Science from the university library as ... The most important thing about a neurons and the way it interacts ... the full analog processing capabilities of real neurons. ... inhibiting each other produces a digital-like either-or system exactly ...
    (talk.origins)