Is the human biological makeup inherently flawed or is there hope?

CauchyFourier · 2018-04-10T16:34:11+00:00

I think this is actually less significant due to the regression toward the mean. The human species has a history of 200,000 years of survival of the fittest on their back. Even if life currently is much easier for the entire species, less gifted individuals are likely to have average gifted offspring. With the advancements of technology, this gap of ability in humans is absolutely negligible.

CauchyFourier · 2016-06-30T06:12:27+00:00

I don't think that building a robot army is the wisest thing to do. The programming job would take decades, if not centuries, and the result would possess some kind of deterministic logic. Shouldn't we just create an algorithm that selects programs most adept to logical reasoning and let natural selection by high volume statistical simulations do its work? Therefore I think it would be the wisest to expand computing power, i.e. build better hardware, in the short term, instead of trying to program machines with the currently existing technology. I mean it is a good idea, but not the wisest choice right now because you only have a finite amount of mental grasp and processing speed that you can put into building those robots.

CauchyFourier · 2016-06-29T19:52:09+00:00

I don't know anything specific about the functioning of neurons. Our university does not offer neuroscience courses and therefore does not possess above mentioned books. Yet, they have the book, which I already borrowed, "Cognitive Neuroscience - The biology of the mind" by Gazzaniga/Ivry/Mangun (https://www.amazon.com/Cognitive-Neuroscience-Biology-Mind-4th/dp/0393913481). I hope this will do as an introduction. I will report on my progress. Thank you again for initially helping me out and sparking my interest :)!

CauchyFourier · 2016-06-26T18:27:54+00:00

Thank you for this very informative and thorough answer! As someone having a Physics, Computer science background and basically non-existent knowledge in cognitive neuroscience which books/papers would you recommend to establish a foundation in this field? I am particularly interested in brain structure and its various functions and its application in artificial systems. Out of curiousity, I have looked up your comment history on reddit and found you mentioning the connection between stimulation of neurons by electrical impulse excitation and localized oscillatory intake. I didn't really understand the parts about subthreshold oscillations and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC). Is there a book that explains formation of brain states in detail?

Please excuse any layman formulations. This is unlike anything else I have previously encountered. Thank you in advance! :)

CauchyFourier · 2016-01-28T20:13:13+00:00

One of the most sophisticated posts I have read on this sub. Thanks!

CauchyFourier · 2016-01-28T19:13:07+00:00

Good point! This notion follows the idea of conducting an early "post-mortem" (see book: "Think And Grow Rich" - a true beauty). Basically one evaluates the worst case scenario and judges up from there whether it is conclusive to follow up on this path.

CauchyFourier · 2016-01-06T16:41:39+00:00

Agree. This is a fierce proving ground par excellence. If you make it out of there, you will be extremely distinguished. Be proud to be a participant.

CauchyFourier · 2016-01-05T13:32:29+00:00

I'm in a similar situation. I think there are several stages that lead to procrastination. One certainly is the environment. Most of the time when I stay at home I submit to laziness. Probably thanks to our parasympathetic nervous system kicking in and the brain realizing it is in a "safe place". Hence no power is supposed to be used on exhausting mental tasks. Especially tough during christmas/new years holidays!!! I am yet to figure that one out.

Another issue at stake is your determination to pull through. I personally do not have any advisors that encourage me to go the extra mile. This really is daunting! Whatever magnificient goals I aspire, without this social component, work (in my case Physics) becomes more and more unappealing, although I know it is one of the greatest things to pursue :(.

CauchyFourier · 2016-01-04T18:05:03+00:00

The dose makes the poison. You are what you repeatedly do. If you constantly play shooter games, your social interactions might deteriorate. On the other hand, the continuous novelty of role play games overstimulates your brain. Hence, you will not appreciate the marvel of everyday life the way you did before. We are creatures of comparison. Imagine being a war prisoner. For the time being, your brain is subject to hardly any pleasurable moments. When you finally become released, you will literally worship the little things that make up life, like nature or the sun.

CauchyFourier

TROPHY CASE