> The brain infrastructure that connects neurons is collectively referred to as the cytoskeleton. It includes proteins, neurotransmitters, filaments, microtubules etc. Above, we saw how electric fields generated by neurons and other parts of the cytoskeleton carry information being used for behavior. Here, we propose the Cytoelectric Coupling Hypothesis: Electric fields help organize components of the cytoskeleton in order to "tune" it to process information efficiently.
I was thinking about this recently... let me see if I can sensibly phrase this.
A human designer would figure out a workable process for, say, neural networking, and optimize that. They would select one or a limited number of potential solutions, and construct a model using those. Natural selection, though, works with every aspect of a mechanism. It can't not; nobody is controlling evolution and saying 'just use electrical signaling for building the nervous system; disregard the chemistry'.
Every environmental aspect of physics, biology, chemistry, quantum mechanics, and more, is participating in natural selection to the degree that it has any impact on survival. There are no guardrails keeping complexity within manageable limits.
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[ 3.4 ms ] story [ 16.6 ms ] thread> The brain infrastructure that connects neurons is collectively referred to as the cytoskeleton. It includes proteins, neurotransmitters, filaments, microtubules etc. Above, we saw how electric fields generated by neurons and other parts of the cytoskeleton carry information being used for behavior. Here, we propose the Cytoelectric Coupling Hypothesis: Electric fields help organize components of the cytoskeleton in order to "tune" it to process information efficiently.
Stunning complexity.
A human designer would figure out a workable process for, say, neural networking, and optimize that. They would select one or a limited number of potential solutions, and construct a model using those. Natural selection, though, works with every aspect of a mechanism. It can't not; nobody is controlling evolution and saying 'just use electrical signaling for building the nervous system; disregard the chemistry'.
Every environmental aspect of physics, biology, chemistry, quantum mechanics, and more, is participating in natural selection to the degree that it has any impact on survival. There are no guardrails keeping complexity within manageable limits.