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Article 2274 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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>From: geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
Subject: Re: How does one model anesthesia in AI?
Message-ID: <12787@pitt.UUCP>
Date: 19 Dec 91 15:04:34 GMT
References: <12686@pitt.UUCP> <60318@netnews.upenn.edu> <3988@papaya.bbn.com>
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Organization: Decision Systems Laboratory, Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA.
Lines: 27

In article <3988@papaya.bbn.com> cbarber@bbn.com (Chris Barber) writes:

>I think it is a mistake to speak of memory and learning as if there
>was just one kind supported by a single mechanism in the brain. There
>have been a lot of research into types of memory and there are many
>examples of people who lack some various types of limited memory and
>learning impairments that suggest there is more than one mechanism. What
>kinds of learning and memory are you talking about here?
>
The fact that there are multiple cognitive modes in the brain
does not suggest multiple mechanisms to me.  One can use fundamental
electronic components to build computers, radios, and many other devices
that have different functions and purposes.  One can use lisp primitives
to build programs that have completely different functions.  Why
could not different cognitive functions be implemented using the
same fundamental mechanisms?  In fact, the ones that we have studied
in enough detail to understand well all do seem to be.

People who demonstrate different deficits usually have lesions in
different anatomical sites, either grossly or microscopically.


-- 
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Gordon Banks  N3JXP      | "I have given you an argument; I am not obliged
geb@cadre.dsl.pitt.edu   |  to supply you with an understanding." -S.Johnson
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