Why do we need to know how the brain works?
 | It is not necessary to believe that the neural network models have anything to do with the nervous system, but it helps. |
| The ideas, facts, experiments from cognitive science and neuroscience help to design and construct neural networks (the real brain works). |
The brain is good at
| Association [Singapore --- LKY; 8- fortune] |
| Classification and Categorization [Animal (move, eat, breath, skin)-> Bird (fly)] |
| Generalization [missile -> antimissile -> antimissile missile->antiantimissile missile] |
| Rapid Response and Quick Inference from inadequate data [You can recognize your mother 10 meter away within a second][pattern recognition of exam problems] |
The hardware is simple
| The elementary computing units are neurons. [1010-1011 of them] |
| Connections are important [1014-1015] |
| Neurons are metabolically very active [25% of the body energy, only 1-2% of body weight] |
| Some claim that we only use about 10% of the brain, is it true? The neurons must earn their keep. |
Generic Neuron
Axon --- very long, may runs for meters.
Body --- soma
Information flow: dendrites -> soma (body) -> axon -> synapses->other neurons