Connectionists: Brain-Mind Magazine, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2013
Juyang Weng
weng at cse.msu.edu
Fri Nov 22 23:09:24 EST 2013
*Brain-Mind Magazine, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2013
*Table of Contents
Front Cover
<http://www.brain-mind-magazine.org/read.php?file=Cover-V2-N2.pdf#view>
0
How the Brain-Mind Works: A Two-Page Introduction to a Theory
<http://www.brain-mind-magazine.org/read.php?file=BMM-V2-N2-a1-HowBrainMind-a.pdf#view>banner
1 - 3
by /Juyang Weng /
*Abstract: *Neuroscience has made impressive advances, but there is
a lack of an overall computational brain theory. I would like to
present a simplified computational theory in an intuitive language
about how the brain wires itself as a multi-interchange bridge that
bi-directionally connects many islands where each island is a sensor
or effector. The wiring process of the brain is highly
self-supervised while a baby manipulates an object, e.g., sucking a
milk bottle. I also explain how the self-wired basic circuits become
motivated through four additional neural transmitters beyond
glutamate and GABA --- serotonin, dopamine, acetylcholine, and
norepinephrine. A layman or a researcher in another discipline can
get a gist of the theory for the brain-mind by reading this two-page
short introduction.
*Index terms: *Brain, mind, neuroscience, cognitive science,
computer science, electrical engineering, mathematics, physics,
biology, philosophy, vision, motivation, intelligence
The EU Human Brain Project Is Unlikely to Create an Artificial
Whole-Brain in a Decade
<http://www.brain-mind-magazine.org/read.php?file=BMM-V2-N2-a2-Gu-a.pdf#view>banner
4 - 6
by /Fan-ji Gu /
*Abstract: *The European Union (EU) Human Brain Project (HBP) has a
core target --- simulation of the human brain in a decade. I argue
in this paper that this target is unlikely to be realized in a
decade, at least in terms of major known brain functions because the
EU HBP researchers lack an overall brain theory. Simulating a kludge
is a fatal underestimation of the overall principles of the
biological human brain.
*Index terms: *Human brain project, Blue Brain Project, whole-brain
model, artificial brain
AAUP Addresses Academic Freedom and Due Process Concerns at MSU
<http://www.brain-mind-magazine.org/read.php?file=BMM-V2-N2-a3-AAUP-a.pdf#view>banner
7 - 7
by /Gregory F. Scholtz /
*Abstract: *On September 5, 2013, the administration of Michigan
State University (MSU) removed Professor William Penn from his
teaching responsibilities after a portion of his lecture was
surreptitiously recorded and posted on a conservative website. In
response to an inquiry about this action from the editors of
Brain-Mind Magazine, the American Association of University
Professors (AAUP) wrote to express concerns about possible
departures from widely adopted AAUP-supported principles and
standards of academic freedom and due process. The letter cited the
relevant AAUP documents whose links are provided.
*Index terms: *Checks and balances of power, academic freedom,
freedom of speech, due process
Trial by YouTube
<http://www.brain-mind-magazine.org/read.php?file=BMM-V2-N2-a4-Kuykendall-a.pdf#view>banner
8 - 10
by /Mae Kuykendall /and/Debra Nails /
*Abstract: *Media campaigns against professors exercising their
academic freedom to teach are being addressed in eerily similar
ways. At Michigan State University in the first week of September
2013, and at the University of Kansas two weeks later, tenured
professors were suspended from their teaching duties by
administrative action without due process. Although suspension has
long been regarded as a disciplinary measure short of dismissal, in
the new atmosphere of social media blitzkrieg, the action is
represented as a rescue operation to protect the teaching professor
from cameras, clamor, and death threats. At the same time, some
administrators suggest that the professors who have offended the
sensibilities of some of their students may have poisoned the
learning environment. The authors review and defend academic freedom
in the new climate.
*Index terms: *Academic freedom, social media, due process
How MSU Lacks Due Process: A Bylaw Perspective
<http://www.brain-mind-magazine.org/read.php?file=BMM-V2-N2-a5-Masfis-a.pdf#view>banner
11 - 12
by /Christopher S. Masfis /
*Abstract: *Michigan State University (MSU) removed Professor
William Penn from a course that he taught because of what he said in
the course. MSU possibly also applied other punishments which, if
there are any, are confidential per MSU regulations. The American
Association of University Professors (AAUP) raised its concerns over
the lack of due process at MSU. The discussion of the MSU
regulations here indicates that Professor Penn case was due to
deeper problems. I use the AAUP recommended procedure standards and
the corresponding bylaws and regulations at an MSU's sister
university --- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor (UofM) --- as
comparative references.
*Index terms: *Science of governing, checks and balances of power,
due process, freedom of speech
The 4th Open Letter to the U.S. President Obama: Safeguard U.S.
against Instinct Bursts
<http://www.brain-mind-magazine.org/read.php?file=BMM-V2-N2-a6-Obama4-Bursts-a.pdf#view>banner
13 - 15
by /Juyang Weng /
*Abstract: *The U.S. luckily skipped a military strike on Syria, but
its government is now partially shutdown. Due to a lack of
experience and knowledge, every individual brain is prone to bursts
of instinctive passions. In the governments, such bursts resulted in
international wars and domestic sufferings. In the short run, every
legislator, including Mr. Obama, should resume budget negotiations
without any precondition because the founding fathers of this nation
expected all in the government to talk and compromise. In the long
run, the U.S. government should systematically adopt brain-like
computational developmental mechanisms into laws to safeguard the
U.S. from gradual buildup of tensions that inevitably will lead to
downfalls, from wars to sequestrations, triggered by small events
like an armed clash or the failure of a last-minute deal.
*Index terms: *Science of brain and mind, U.S. interest, foreign
policies, domestic policies
Building Civilized Societies with Better Cultures
<http://www.brain-mind-magazine.org/read.php?file=BMM-V2-N2-a7-Xie-a.pdf#view>banner
16 - 17
by /Ming Xie /
*Abstract: *In this paper, I put forward the concept of culture
space, and highlight its three principal axes for referencing values
which are the ultimate causes behind all social and individual
activities as well as behaviors. And, these three references for
gauging values are: people-centric reference for values,
family-centric reference for values, and customer-centric reference
for values. The culture space is the domain in which all minds
evolve and develop. All the differences of behaviors among people,
populations and countries are reflected by the paths or trajectories
of their minds in the culture space.
*Index terms: *Mind, culture, behavior, value, creation, destruction
Brain Stories 4: Government Terrors
<http://www.brain-mind-magazine.org/read.php?file=BMM-V2-N2-a8-Brain4-Terror-a.pdf#view>banner
18 - 20
by /Brian N. Huang /
*Abstract: *Every brain, from a layman to a national hero, is badly
limited by the knowledge it can learn through its lifetime. The
poorer his living conditions, the less likely he receives necessary
education to act more intelligently. When such an individual has
unchecked power in the government, the government inevitably results
in widespread terrors in the name of the people or the nation. Here
I tell a personal true story about how I was hopelessly part of the
terrors created by a government whose unchecked paramount leader was
not necessarily fully aware that he was indeed badly cheating the
poor class and the nation that he claimed to represent.
*Index terms: *Government power, checks and balances, the Cultural
Revolution
Back cover
<http://www.brain-mind-magazine.org/read.php?file=CoverBack-2013-11-22.pdf#view>
21
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Established since June 2012
Published by the Brain-Mind Institute <http://www.brain-mind-institute.org/>
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