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The Learning Zone
An Artificial Brain
NEWS, 22 July, 2009
Artificial brain '10 years away'
A detailed, functional artificial human brain can be built within the next 10 years, a leading scientist has claimed.
Henry Markram, director of the Blue Brain Project, has already simulated elements of a rat brain.
With special thanks to the Wall Street Journal, watch an interview with Dr. Henry Markram about the Blue Brain Project.
What does all this mean for the concept of the "self?"
Dr. Peter Fenwick weighs in on the subject
The
neuroscience community has been waiting some time for a realistic brain to be
designed and made. The importance of this brain project is that it uses software
modules to mimic each brain cell. They also note that the software is extremely
complex as: for each cell a laptop is required to do the
processing, and hence the need for a supercomputer with the power of 10,000
laptops.
An Artificial Brain – Science Fact or Science Fiction?
That is an incredible proposition!
Is the dawn of science fiction becoming science fact? If these
claims are true, this could mean the end of misery for so many
sufferers of devastating neurological diseases like MS, stroke and
dementia. As he said during the TED Global conference held in Oxford
last week a synthetic human brain would be of particular use in finding
treatments for mental illnesses. Yes, of course this could help medical
science whether it be to help those suffering with mental illnesses,
neurological disorders, or both. But this “science fiction” turning to
“science fact” really made me think of something else – What will this
all really mean for people who may benefit from it?
Katherine Lang
Human, Mammal, Frankenstein?
The Blue Brain project states that it could
advance neuroscience and philosophy; I see how it would challenge
humankind as to what would we do with a brain created from "scratch?" I
mean, where are we going to put this thing? I cannot but think of this
endeavor as a new version of Frankenstein! But wait, what happens if
they put a human brain into a mammal? Will the mammal suddenly have
moral instincts and the ability to rationalize?
Hugh Fisher
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