hen comments on Rationality Quotes June 2013 - Less Wrong

3 Post author: Thomas 03 June 2013 03:08AM

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Comment author: [deleted] 09 June 2013 01:35:46AM 1 point [-]

I guess I mean: has the science of neuroanatomy discovered any circuits whatsoever?

Comment author: TheOtherDave 09 June 2013 03:57:50AM 0 points [-]

I am having trouble knowing how to answer your question, because I'm not sure what you're asking.
We have identified neural structures that are implicated in various specific things that brains do.
Does that answer your question?

Comment author: [deleted] 09 June 2013 06:15:13AM 4 points [-]

I'm not very up to date on neurobiology, and so when I saw your comment that we had not found the specific circuits for some experience I was surprised by the implication that we had found that there are neural circuits at all. To my knowledge, all we've got is fMRI captures showing changes in blood flow which we assume to be correlated in some way with synaptic activity. I wondered if you were using 'circuit' literally, or if your intended reference to the oft used brain-computer metaphor. I'm quite interested to know how appropriate that metaphor is.

Comment author: TheOtherDave 09 June 2013 06:41:44AM 2 points [-]

Ah! Thanks for the clarification. No, I'm using "circuit" entirely metaphorically.