Игорь Волков – Hardware and software of the brain (страница 13)

Real-world execution

Our computers perform algorithms – predefined sequences. If something went wrong or real conditions don't fit what is required, the machine doesn't pay attention and makes an error. Humans are more reasonable. Accordingly, the procedure is more complicated.

Before each action we automatically check whether the current conditions are in accord with the prescribed. Also we project the consequences because the programmer could not foresee all the variants possible. This forecasting uses knowledge from the internal picture of the world.

After the action, we evaluate the real results and check whether they are acceptable. Otherwise, we must backtrack and redo the job.

Sometimes an obstacle emerges and the whole remaining tail of the algorithm becomes inadequate. Then, it must be reprogrammed in real time. This also uses the internal knowledge base.

Commentaries

As other major terms, the words from this cluster are de-facto used with a different meaning. One popular dualism is information versus activation. In the most primitive sense, consciousness is just non-sleeping. More subtle gradations are possible. We may be awake, but act automatically because upper levels of control are down. When they are on, consciousness as information processing begins.

Detailed schemes may be rather complicated. Let's consider, for example, decision making. There are 2 parallel channels: emotional and rational. In the first case, I do it just because I like this variant. In the second, the decision is guided by rules. Both cases may proceed consciously or subconsciously when we can't report why this decision was made. The specific mysterious feeling of the self emerges when the associative neocortex receives input from decision-making structures. We look at our own inner proceedings. Also, we may have a special area in the brain, the activation of which marks the state of wakefulness. When it is down, many (but not all) brain functions are switched off. Awakening is like pressing the Power button in a computer. The brain must know its current state. The feeling of the self serves this purpose.

Another example shows the usefulness of conscious self-control from the computational point. When we perform some activity, it is asynchronous. An action will be performed until the expected result is achieved. If this doesn't happen, the system will hang. Consciousness prevents it. As soon as we see that the action drags too long, a program of correction is turned on.

Religion

The common meaning of the English word conscience is emotional evaluation of own actions and is closely linked to religion. Also self-control but of a higher level. Furthermore, modern religions require the presence of a book. A written version transfers knowledge via the conscious channel. A new believer can acquire the basic facts and rules of behavior one by one. Indeed, religion is a network version of a knowledge base. On one hand, it defines individual behavior and the principles of interaction. On the other, one meaning of the term God is the soul of a nation. Religion defines a new living organism of the social level.

Cybernetics of consciousness

Full-scale consciousness emerges in advanced systems of multiparametrical regulation. When you have just a few biological needs, can manage them on the principle of domination (priority). Adding secondary needs already requires a vector norm. Advancing further to self-linked maintenance of brain workability shifts to a full-scale analog image of the self.

Human consciousness is the third regulatory loop of the brain. The first, most ancient, maintains the vital internal parameters such as the body temperature or glucose concentration in the blood. The second is well known reflex. It loops through the environment but works on the same principle. If you notice that your furniture is broken, will try and fix it.

The brain is a control system but also a living organ. As such, it requires maintenance as well. How can it control itself? The idea is the same again. There are 2 blocks: input and output. The insula and other paralimbic areas receive data about brain operation and evaluate its adequacy in the current circumstances. On the other hand, parts of the prefrontal neocortex not only generate abstract plans for motor areas but also can control other brain parts. For example – attention management.

This completely demystifies consciousness as some superability. First, it is only a principle, should be implemented yet. Second, programs without self-control are still quite workable. Finally, adding this feature does not makes the system superintelligent automatically. Elements of consciousness were already implemented in many devices. The frontal cortex keeps programs that generate visible behavior. Adding such a block to a machine means nothing yet. The programs implementing human-like consciousness should be written yet.

Basic cycle

The function of consciousness is supported by several brain structures, but even on the purely functional level, it is distributed. Different elements of conscious self-maintenance are possible. When an algorithm is performed in the real world rather than constant office conditions, it is impossible to foresee all the options, but we can add extra checks. Before the execution, we can check necessary conditions and possible consequences by means of forecasting. When the job is done – evaluate results, draw conclusions, and change some rules for the future.

Machine consciousness

Some elements of self-control were already implemented in computers long ago. For example, a powerful processor generates much heat during intensive computing. Such machines would break down exactly when their workability is especially required. To prevent this, modern models add a temperature sensor which forces the cooler to spin faster when necessary. Consciousness turns out to be not so mysteriously superior as it seems.

How to create a control system which controls itself (among other things)? First of all, what is control? There are 2 concepts. The simplest is regulation, that is maintaining some static condition. A more general one is management, but it may be reduced to maintaining some trajectory, that condition depending on time. Hence, the first variant is theoretically enough. How can a control system maintain own workability?

There are numerous methods depending on a particular device. First of all, we can fix the common shortcoming of the algorithm. Unpredicted circumstances. The environment has changed, but the machine doesn't know and continues the old operation. This leads to errors. We can implement additional monitoring for such situations and methods to fix it. This will require real-time automatic problem solving.

Some programmatic models are already half-conscious. Asynchronous computing is performed not on the time basis but until the result. In many cases, this approach will solve the previous problems. Nevertheless, it has own shortcoming. Suppose the situation is difficult, and the task can't be completed. The whole system will hang, wait to infinity. In this case, a conscious behavior would be to detect the time-out and switch to problem solving as previously.

Computational advantages of consciousness

Consciousness naturally emerges in advanced asynchronous systems. Let's illustrate this on a simple example. In algorithmic computers, the next instruction is retrieved from memory at the next pulse of the clock generator. In a human neurocomputer, the next action is launched by the end of the previous one, but how to detect this end? Keep in mind that we need a universal scheme for all the types of activity. Obviously, the procedure is context-dependent. In the simplest case of one numerical parameter, we can use the primitive threshold function, but still, this parameter itself should be chosen before we can measure its value. In the most general approach, we need to load a special, task-dependent program for this purpose, that is just for running the computational process as such. Already this particular example highlights that we implement self-control, monitoring own actions. That's consciousness.

The same perspective is visible for advanced synchronous computing. We can imagine a device with the changeable clock frequency and, accordingly, a computing system which monitors the current situation and speeds up or slows down when necessary.

In addition to timing, real human neurocomputing can also regulate the amplitude. Sleep and awakening are well distinguishable marginal states. The overall brain activation during the awakened condition itself is also regulated. Although it is a low-level unconscious automatic process. We drink coffee to overcome it. In real-life behavior, the brain generates a sophisticated control process to manage both timing and energy of the computations. This process includes consciousness.

1. Consciousness Science Underdetermined

A Short History of Endless Debates

Matthias Michel

Sciences, Normes et Democratie, Sorbonne Universite, CNRS.