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Artificial Consciousness/Neural Correlates/Synaptic Models/Chemical Cascade Model

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Chemical Cascade Model

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Dr. Kandel's work, links the biochemistry of the chemical cascade reaction to the growth of new connectinos between cells at the physical level, Even at the time that Dr. Kandel published his Nobel Winning work, we thought that it was the nature of memory that it would flow from the shortest memories to the longest memories, in a natural progression.

[1] Wayne Sissons work however suggests that in fact, this is not the case, but that distinct Bio-Molecular Traces can be found for different types of memory, and that these traces are triggered and run in parallel. With the use of genetic KO experiments, and experiments using antagonists for specific chemicals necessary for particular memory functions, it is possible to show that the bio-molecular traces for different types of memories are distinct and do not depend on each other, running in parallel with each other.

Despite this, work on LTP, the mechanism that Dr. Kandel's work was based, indicates that there are distinct phases during which different functions happen and different DNA is expressed. These phases called LTP1, LTP2, and LTP3 by some may correspond to different bio-molecular mechanisms that are triggered by different molecular traces.

It is not until we can straighten out the complex bio-molecular traces, and what they actually do, that we will be able to clear the mist that obscures cellular memory, and model it fully at the cellular level.

One theoretical approach, suggested by Dr. Kandel's work, is the idea that some of the bio-molecular traces are involved with Synapto-genesis, or the creation of synapses, and some of the bio-molecular traces are involved with fibril growth.

However Dr. Sissons work suggests that this is an oversimplification, that there are also short term and medium term mechanisms that need to be taken into account. Perhaps it is necessary for there to be some internal representation of the synaptic state, that lasts longer than the synapse weights can, by themselves.




  1. ↑ Defining Memories by their distinct molecular traces, Wayne Sisson, Trends in Neuroscience-592 Cell Press (Preview)
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