[paper draft] Coalescing minds: brain uploading-related group mind scenarios

Kaj_Sotala

http://www.xuenay.net/Papers/CoalescingMinds.pdf

Abstract: We present a hypothetical process of mind coalescence, where artificial connections are created between two brains. This might simply allow for an improved form of communication. At the other extreme, it might merge two minds into one in a process that can be thought of as a reverse split-brain operation. We propose that one way mind coalescence might happen is via an exocortex, a prosthetic extension of the biological brain which integrates with the brain as seamlessly as parts of the biological brain integrate with each other. An exocortex may also prove to be the easiest route for mind uploading, as a person’s personality gradually moves from away from the aging biological brain and onto the exocortex. Memories might also be copied and shared even without minds being permanently merged. Over time, the borders of personal identity may become loose or even unnecessary.

Like my other draft, this is for the special issue on mind uploading in the International Journal of Machine Consciousness. The deadline is Oct 1st, so any comments will have to be quick for me to take them into account.

This one is co-authored with Harri Valpola.

EDIT: Improved paper on the basis of feedback; see this comment for the changelog.

http://www.xuenay.net/Papers/CoalescingMinds.pdf

Abstract: We present a hypothetical process of mind coalescence, where artificial connections are created between two brains. This might simply allow for an improved form of communication. At the other extreme, it might merge two minds into one in a process that can be thought of as a reverse split-brain operation. We propose that one way mind coalescence might happen is via an exocortex, a prosthetic extension of the biological brain which integrates with the brain as seamlessly as parts of the biological brain integrate with each other. An exocortex may also prove to be the easiest route for mind uploading, as a person’s personality gradually moves from away from the aging biological brain and onto the exocortex. Memories might also be copied and shared even without minds being permanently merged. Over time, the borders of personal identity may become loose or even unnecessary.

This one is co-authored with Harri Valpola.

EDIT: Improved paper on the basis of feedback; see this comment for the changelog.

It is possible that single-attention-grabbing-thought lmitation is a limitation that can be overcome by learning (maybe this learning can be helped by temporary split-brain?). Some people claim to be able to partially overcome this limitation; it can be explained away as very fast switching, but as every thought has some background afterglow, very fast switching versus parallel thinking can be hard to distinguish.

I wonder what would happen in the end of merging of a temporary split - merging two minds can pass through a mostly-single-mind with two attention processes.

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[paper draft] Coalescing minds: brain uploading-related group mind scenarios

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[paper draft] Coalescing minds: brain uploading-related group mind scenarios

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