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Article 7093 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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>From: baker@westsd.dco.dec.com (Art Baker)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
Subject: Re: self-evolution
Message-ID: <1992Oct2.141804.6779@decuac.dec.com>
Date: 2 Oct 92 14:18:04 GMT
References: <92274.201057GE0QC@CUNYVM.BITNET> <BILL.92Oct1165428@ca3.nsma.arizona.edu>
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In article <BILL.92Oct1165428@ca3.nsma.arizona.edu> bill@nsma.arizona.edu (Bill Skaggs) writes:
>
>I think the question of self-evolution is very interesting.  Of course
>humans as well as computers can change their algorithms to enhance
>their capabilities -- that's why we go to school.  But there is a
>level, the neural level, at which our algorithms seem to be fixed, or
>at least insulated from consciousness.  

 I'm not clear about just what "neural level" you're referring to, but
both animal studies and simulations by Edelson have shown that both
sensory and motor surfaces will re-map themselves as a result of
increased activity.  So, for instance, if you lose one of your fingers,
the sensory maps for the remaining fingers will spread out on the
surface of the brain, effectively making the remaining fingers more
sensitive.  This appears to be an ongoing process within the nervous
system.

 Learning a complex physical skill, like playing a musical instrument,
also probably involves this kind of neural adaptation. 

 The point of all this is that, although you (apparently) can't cause
changes in your neural structure just by "thinking about" them, you can
very certainly induce structural change by your actions.  Again, for
example, by choosing to spend time every day practicing an instrument.

 The nervous system is really quite plastic and adaptable, and I suspect
that much of what passes for structural stability within it is, in fact,
the result of our daily environment being rather consistent; i.e., the
structure is (partially) imposed from outside.

 Regards.

-- 
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	* Art Baker			| Joy and fierceness...	  *
	* baker@westsd.dco.dec.com	|  			  *
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