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  • Profile picture of Dash Rendar

    Dash Rendar posted an update 5 years, 2 months ago

    The latest blog post by Dr. Farrell “The Living Robotic Frog” reminded me of this recent article I came across:
    https://techxplore.com/news/2021-01-evolvable-neural-mimic-brain-synaptic.html

    While it doesn’t mention stem cells, the article does mention the use of evolutionary algorithms “that can simulate a specific type of evolutionary process based on the notions of survival of the fittest, random mutation and reproduction.” The goal of the published paper the article discusses was to apply the evolutionary algorithms to individual neurons in an artificial neural network in order to create “evolvable neural units (ENUs) that can adapt to mimic specific neurons and mechanisms of synaptic plasticity” seen in biological brains.

    • Profile picture of Dash Rendar
      Dash Rendar replied 5 years, 2 months ago

      A very interesting part of the article:
      “”By using such evolutionary methods, it is possible to evolve these units to perform very complex information processing, similar to biological neurons,” Bertens explained.”

      Note here that they aren’t starting with a mathematical model of a complex biological neuron, and then plugging that function into a larger equation. Instead, they are starting with a simple mathematical model of neuron and *actively evolving* it into something much more complex. Essentially turbo-boosted boot-strapped evolution. My speculation: possibly an occult analogy to taking a shortcut up the tree of life (left hand path).

        • Profile picture of Dash Rendar
          Dash Rendar replied 5 years, 2 months ago

          The quote from Bertens continues:
          “Most current neuron models only allow single output values (spikes or graded potentials), and in case of synapses only a single synaptic weight value. The main unique characteristics of ENUs is that they can output multiple values (vectors), which could be seen as analogous to neurotransmitters in the brain.”

          The article then goes on to mention the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin. Another speculation: this could be an attempt to create artificial analogues of these neurotransmitters to allow for interfacing between an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and an actual biological brain. Here stem cells could very well be a missing biological shim.

          • Profile picture of Dash Rendar
            Dash Rendar replied 5 years, 2 months ago

            Also, dopamine and serotonin are affected by psychoactive substances. Some folks like shamans consider the experiences while using these substances a connection with a spiritual plane. In this light creating artificial analogues of these neurotransmitters for ANNs could also be an attempt (possibly with the aforementioned shim included) to create a portal for these ANNs to connect to a spiritual plane. And knowing Mr. Globaloney it would probably be for the purpose of more fluid communication with malicious interdimensional entities.

              • Profile picture of Dash Rendar
                Dash Rendar replied 5 years, 2 months ago

                Have to mention, I really loved the C.S. Lewis quote in “The Living Robotic Frog” blog post by Dr. Farrell. The Magician’s Nephew is next on my list of books to read again.

          • Profile picture of FiatLux
            FiatLux replied 5 years, 2 months ago

            I see this, on one level, as a way to give human-type learning skills to machines. One goal is to make it possible to replace human employees with machines in more and more complex types of job.