The Functional Neuron
(Bottom up Psychology)
Bearing in mind that the electronic analogy is an only an analogy, The diagram shows 8 gates (neurons). The neuron actually controls two systems, the dendrites and the axons. The axon connections have to be close together, the dendrites can be across the brain. Now we’ll do an analogy of an analogy. We’ll call the right hand group of 4 the axon (objective) network and the left hand the dendrite (subjective) network. Let’s assume we want to make a decision on taking a job. The two de terminates we have decided on are; proximity and pay. Pick one of these gates and assign these to the two inputs. If the pay is good and it’s close, and all other things being equal, the neuron will fire and we’ll take the job.
But all is not equal. Let’s make the situation ambiguous, the pay is good but we have to move. Oops, now we have a problem, do it fire or do it don’t fire? Lets check the dendrite system, that’s the tie breaker. We’ll assign values to the eight input pins. Friends, clubs, associations, expenses, ethics, location, stability, parking. (It doesn’t matter) Assign values to each of these inputs, add them up or sum them (confabulator) If the number is positive we take the job. If the number is negative we pass. Even if the pay is good and it’s close the dendrite system may override the firing if the values are high enough.
This is why when they do a CAT scan on brain activity, there will be a cluster of neurons firing and random unexplained random firings. The dendrite system is the “hidden layer” that has been heretofore unexplained. Hunches, centering, creativity, ethics hooks in here.
Bear in mind, the mind actually works in patterns, not in discrete functions.
