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Article 1973 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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>From: geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
Subject: Re: Searle and the Chinese Room
Message-ID: <12616@pitt.UUCP>
Date: 9 Dec 91 11:58:22 GMT
References: <1991Dec5.191043.10565@psych.toronto.edu> <302@tdatirv.UUCP> <40332@dime.cs.umass.edu>
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Organization: Decision Systems Laboratory, Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA.
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In article <40332@dime.cs.umass.edu> yodaiken@chelm.cs.umass.edu (victor yodaiken) writes:
>
>>And, since my knowledge of neurology suggests that all of my mental functions
>>are based on electro-chemical reactions in characterizable processing elements,
>>I must conclude that however our brain may achive meaning, it is computable.
>
>This is revolutionary knowledge. Could you please cite some references which
>provide *objective* evidence that there are *characterizable processing
>elements* in the brain and that they are the seat of  all mental functions. 
>

For the processing elements, any textbook on neurophysiology.
For the connection of the brain with mental functions, any textbook
on clinical neuropsychology.  Of course proving completeness is
impossible, but certain there is a wealth of objective evidence.

I have one particular patient who has a high disconnection syndrome.
She is totally paralyzed, except for being able to move her eyes.
But using her laser pointing device, if you have sufficient patience,
you can carry on a very intelligent conversation with her.  She is
not able to swallow, and is fed through a stomach tube.  About all
she has left is her forebrain, and her mental functions seem to
be intact.  She watches TV and keeps up on all the soap operas.



-- 
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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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