Computations by different types of brain, and by artificial neural systems

Abstract

Abstract A comparison is made between computations in the brain and computations performed in computers. This is intended to be helpful to those engineers, computer scientists, AI specialists et al interested in designing new computers that emulate aspects of brain function. In fact, the whole of this book is intended to be useful for this aim, by setting out what is computed by different brain systems, and what we know about how it is computed. It is essential to know this if an emulation of brain function is to be performed, and this is important to enable this group of scientists to bring their expertise to help understand brain function more. Key differences between artificial deep learning using error backpropagation, and biologically plausible networks with local synaptic learning rule that are emphasized in this book, are described. The important issue of the relation between the mind and the brain, and how we should view causality in complex systems with different levels of explanation is considered, and leads to an overview of how brain systems implement consciousness. Section 19.10 makes it clear why the focus of this book is on computations in primate (and that very much includes human) brains, rather than on rodent (rat and mice) brains. It is because the systems-level organization of primate including human brains is quite different from that in rodents, in many fundamental ways that are described.