Comparing a Microprocessor to the Brain: Exploring Knowledge, Intelligence, and Consciousness in an Age of Artificial Intelligence

Authors

  • Aditi Choudhary University of Pittsburgh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/pur.2024.66

Keywords:

Artificial Intelligence, Microprocessing, Philosophy of Science, Cognitive Science, Neuroscience

Abstract

Brains and microprocessors, while seemingly distinct, share a profound complexity that challenges our understanding of both. In "Could a Neuroscientist Understand a Microprocessor?" by Eric Jonas and Konrad Paul Kording, this complexity is explored through a comparative analysis, raising questions about knowledge, complexity, and the relationship between humans and machines. The authors challenge the common analogy of brains as nature's computers, highlighting the struggle neuroscientists face in comprehending systems like microprocessors, despite their similar composition of billions of interconnected components. Jonas and Kording argue that the limitations of current neuroscience frameworks hinder a deep understanding of brain function, suggesting that methodologies from computer science could enhance the field. Their critique extends to fundamental philosophical debates about consciousness and intelligence, questioning what the difficulties in understanding complex systems reveal about the nature of knowledge. This essay dissects these limitations and their impact on our understanding of brain processes, advocating for an interdisciplinary approach to intelligence that encompasses both biological and artificial systems. By embracing the parallels between brains and microprocessors, we can advance a more comprehensive understanding of both. 

References

Eijkhout, Victor. “Single-Processor Computing.” The Art of HPC, 23 Dec. 2022, theartofhpc.com/istc/sequential.html.

Jonas, Eric, and Konrad Paul Kording. “Could a Neuroscientist Understand a Microprocessor?.” PLoS computational biology vol. 13,1 e1005268. 12 Jan. 2017, doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005268

Cover image for PUR Vol. III, No. 2

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Published

2024-11-12

How to Cite

Choudhary, A. (2024). Comparing a Microprocessor to the Brain: Exploring Knowledge, Intelligence, and Consciousness in an Age of Artificial Intelligence. Pittsburgh Undergraduate Review, 3(2), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.5195/pur.2024.66

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 2 (2024): Pittsburgh Undergraduate Review

Section

Review

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Copyright (c) 2024 Aditi Choudhary

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