Research Catalog

Title

Enchanted looms : conscious networks in brains and computers / Rodney Cotterill.

Author

Cotterill, Rodney, 1933-2007

Publication

Cambridge, [Eng.] ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 1998.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Description

xiv, 508 p. : ill.; 26 cm.

Summary

Rodney Cotterill bridges the gap between the bottom-up approach to understanding consciousness, anchored in the brain's biochemistry, anatomy and physiology, and the top-down strategy, which concerns itself with behaviour and the nervous system's interaction with the environment. Equally at home describing the intricacies of neural networks, the methods of monitoring brain activity and relevant aspects of psychology, the author argues that an explanation of consciousness is now at hand, and extends the discussion to include intelligence and creativity. Those who believe that their conscious selves control their bodies will be shocked to learn that even our spur-of-the-moment decisions are made unconsciously - that we are merely captive audiences of our own muscular acts. The remarkable thing is that the underlying deterministic mechanism requires that we be conscious. Evolution's boldest trick greatly increased our competitive edge, by giving the body a conscious servant. The fascinating thing is that this ultimately opened the flood gates of our culture and our technology, including - soon - consciousness in computers.

Subject

• Nerve Net
• Neural networks (Computer science)
• Neural networks (Neurobiology)
• Neural Networks, Computer

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 437-467) and indexes.

Contents

Introduction -- The ultimate black box -- Under the lid -- Games neurons play -- Lasting impressions -- From percept to concept -- The grand design -- The first half second -- Midwives of reflection -- The depth of reason -- The message and the medium.

ISBN

0521624355 (hardbound)

LCCN

^^^98020548^

OCLC

• 39108636
• SCSB-9880053

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library