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From: gyro@netcom.com (Scott L. Burson)
Subject: Thought Question
Message-ID: <gyroD1x7oJ.8tF@netcom.com>
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References: <3edkgf$mmb@agate.berkeley.edu> <1995Jan4.171133.19446@galileo.cc.rochester.edu> <3eg1c1$oli@agate.berkeley.edu>
Date: Thu, 5 Jan 1995 07:05:07 GMT
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Xref: glinda.oz.cs.cmu.edu comp.ai.alife:1637 comp.ai.philosophy:24322

In article <3eg1c1$oli@agate.berkeley.edu> <jerrybro@uclink2.berkeley.edu> writes:
>stevens@prodigal.psych.rochester.edu (Greg Stevens) wrote:
>
>> Again, as soon as you have the computer interacting with an environment
>> which contributes a steady steam of changing input information, it's speed
>> matters as well.
>
>Well, if you think it's redundant to say, "do this computation at
>this speed", then this particular objection of mine does not hold.
>I was using the idea of a computation as being a task that can
>be carried out at different speeds.  Whereas what the brain does
>cannot be done at different speeds.

Say what?  It's my (non-expert) understanding that speed of transmission of
impulses across synapses varies significantly depending on neurotransmitter
balance, availability of ATP, presence of stimulants, stuff like that.

Someone said that they wouldn't trust a person with a sped-up brain to drive a
car, but caffeine, for instance, has been shown to reduce reaction times, and
I know of no evidence that it impairs driving ability.

Subjectively, I would say that my brain seems to run at a whole variety of
different speeds, often slowing down at the most inopportune times :->

-- Scott
