I have just discovered the paper “Superior pattern processing is the essence of the evolved human brain”
by Mark P. Mattson (Frontiers of Neuroscience, 2014; 8: 265 – online) and I am extremely excited
because of the way it ties in with my own research. The abstract reads as
follows:
Humans have long pondered the nature of their
mind/brain and, particularly why its capacities for reasoning, communication
and abstract thought are far superior to other species, including closely
related anthropoids. This article considers superior pattern processing (SPP)
as the fundamental basis of most, if not all, unique features of the human
brain including intelligence, language, imagination, invention, and the belief
in imaginary entities such as ghosts and gods. SPP involves the
electrochemical, neuronal network-based, encoding, integration, and transfer to
other individuals of perceived or mentally-fabricated patterns. During human
evolution, pattern processing capabilities became increasingly sophisticated as
the result of expansion of the cerebral cortex, particularly the prefrontal
cortex and regions involved in processing of images. Specific patterns, real or
imagined, are reinforced by emotional experiences, indoctrination and even
psychedelic drugs. Impaired or dysregulated SPP is fundamental to cognitive and
psychiatric disorders. A broader understanding of SPP mechanisms,
and their roles in normal and abnormal function of the human brain, may enable
the development of interventions that reduce irrational decisions and
destructive behaviors.
I have emphasised the final sentence and note the following
paragraph from the body of the text.
While some principles by which the brain uses
pattern recognition and encoding to represent the past and the future have been
established, a clear understanding of the underlying molecular and cellular
mechanisms is lacking. How the encoded patterns are recalled and
processed to generate enduring memories of the different patterns and their
association with other encoded patterns (e.g., associations of the image of an
object with the sound, smell, or feel of that object) is also not well
understood. Nevertheless, the human brain is capable of using
stored information to generate novel images, sounds, and other patterns in the
processes of imagination and invention.
The reason for my excitement is that CODIL (Context
Dependent In formation Language) clearly involves “Superior Pattern Processing”
and the ideas discussed on this blog suggest how it can be related to the
neural network of the brain. A second blog post will look in detail at what the
model tells us about how the human brain evolved from an animal brain.
