[Return to Writing]
The following sample journal would be graded as follows, using the rubric:
Length (0-2 pts)/1.5
Summary (how well you summarized the relevant material: 0-2 pts)/2
Discussion (organization and understanding: 0-3 pts)/2
Grammar/Spelling/Mechanics (for the journal entry as a whole: 0-3)/3
Score: 8.5
Word count: 588
Summary
In this video Henry Markram talks about developing a brain model to satisfy three different goals. First to satisfy the need for humans to understand the brain, second to eliminate the need to perform experimentation on animals, and lastly to begin looking at the two billion people that are affected by mental disorders. He addresses one theory on how the brain works (there are several different theories). This theory states that the brain creates a version of the universe and projects this version all around us. It focuses on how decisions allow you to see, think, and feel. He goes on to talk about when you open a door and walk into a room; you are constantly forced to make decisions. Markram states that 99% of what you see is not what comes in through the eyes; it is what you infer about the objects in the room. Markram goes on to talk about how the brain evolved from the first brain to that of humans. He compares the human brain, specifically the neocortex, to that of a computer with G5 processors. Using his research of cataloging all the neurons in the brain, Markram states that no two neurons are the same and no two brains will have the same configuration of neurons. Then using the computer model that was generated, Markram was able to change neurons, with the result that the circuitry changed, however the pattern did not. This led Markram to believe that we do share the same fabric of reality even though our brains are different. Markram concludes his presentation with the fact that brains can be built and that within the next ten years they should have the task accomplished.
Discussion
The film itself was relatively interesting in the sense that they were able to identify, model, and categorize all the neurons of a human brain. This allowed the researchers to see how the brain converted stimuli into the electrical impulses that are the messages of neurons that make up the brain. The implications of this are profound. First by being able to map the neocortex and all the neurons, scientists might begin to understand what is going wrong with mental disorders. If these disorders can be understood at the level of the neurons, then perhaps developing a procedure that would fix the damaged neurons would fix the mental disability. Second by understanding how the neurons function a better model of the brain can be developed. This will ultimately help with constructing a working model of the brain. This would accomplish at least one of Markram’s goals as, a working model of a brain would reduce, if not eliminate, the need for research to be performed on animal brains that closely resemble ours (in order to study a working brain without the need to kill a living animal). Another possibility of developing a working brain would be the possibility of a robot that could think and act for itself. By understanding how humans perceive the world around them (when Markram discusses decisions at 3:39), we can begin to develop robots that can think and act on their own without outside input from controllers. This would allow for robots to enter a hostile situation and make split-second decisions without the need to relay information to a controller, and then have the controller input a series of directions to the robot. Overall this video was very interesting as it allowed the viewer to learn about the possibilities behind the development of a functioning brain model.
[Return to Writing]