Submitted by frameworkgenerous t3_zvh790 in Futurology
Shloopadoop t1_j1p7x0x wrote
Reply to comment by Shot-Job-8841 in Does the brain have extreme potential by frameworkgenerous
Well, this is a tricky semantic issue, because it is both true that we know a lot about the brain and that there is a lot we do not yet know. For instance, we still don’t know precisely how memory works. We know a lot about what areas are activated when memories are stored and recalled, and we know a lot of facts about memory, like what causes things to transfer from short term to long term memory, but we can’t diagram the literal process of storing, maintaining, and retrieving memories like we can describe for a computer. There is a ton of complex collaboration between areas of the brain and we can’t “see” how the data is being managed and processed. Does that mean we don’t know what kind of general limits the brain has? I can’t speak to that, but I’d imagine most neuroscientists would agree there are some limits we could reasonably assume about the brain’s capabilities from what we already know, and that would include things like superpowers. In a sense, the way our brains process information is already a superpower compared to where machine learning and AI are currently.
pzzia02 t1_j1pdcpn wrote
I thought mememories are stored as electrical patterns in your neurons when you say drink pepsi your brain sent a coded signal with that taste that is remembered and any time you drink pepsi itll refire that old signal again
Arrasor t1_j1ppsxi wrote
Not that simple, a memory consists of many parts. Let's go with your pepsi. The taste, the texture, your perception of pepsi being good or bad... are all stored in different parts of your brain. How all those parts are assembled into a complete memory is what we don't know yet.
Gilded-Mongoose t1_j1r40b6 wrote
Right. And like…pleasure. It’s a series of chemicals sent to our brain telling us that it’s “good” - but how the hell do we actually process and experience it as such!? Both that and things like itches. What is it that makes that difference between understanding something as a signal of “yes this is a good thing” or “an itch” vs actually experiencing the thing and knowing what to do?
I WISH I could simply experience pain or discomfort on an objective level, like a car light going on - but something about it is just too subjective. What is that “thing” on a biological / neurological level beyond the base mechanisms?
tamponinja t1_j1t6j0x wrote
Phd neuroscience here. Different neurotransmitter systems are used to distinguish these sensations. Sometimes singularly and sometimes in concert with others. For one pleasurable experiences take place via the mesolimbic dopamine system. This system is used in collaboration with other sensory inputs to distinguish X = good.
Computer_Sci t1_j1sbaus wrote
Pretty sure they do know lol.
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