What is "Mind?"

And the system is designed simply for you to survive

The brain is finite, the mind infinite.

the apparent open ended nature of the human mind and it may be healthy for us to believe in it.

The word "infinite" keeps reappearing.

We have embedded within us a possibly fatal flaw.

For example, to try and understand the mystery, like MH2 wants to do

AC Voltage
60mV, 600mV, 6V, 60V : + (1.0%+3)
600V : + (1.5%+3)

MikeL: The brain is finite, the mind infinite.

yanqui: I liked your post healyje / I'll make my adieu...

the fact we are the most ruthless killing machine ever devised

Another stoopid blah, blah, blah.

Why do we have consciousness? This is a good question...

Evolution of complex higher brain centers and behaviors: behavioral correlates of mushroom body elaboration in insects.

Sarah M. Farris

Abstract

Large, complex higher brain centers have evolved many times independently within the vertebrates, but the selective pressures driving these acquisitions have been difficult to pinpoint. It is well established that sensory brain centers become larger and more structurally complex to accommodate processing of a particularly important sensory modality. When higher brain centers such as the cerebral cortex become greatly expanded in a particular lineage, it is likely to support the coordination and execution of more complex behaviors, such as those that require flexibility, learning, and social interaction, in response to selective pressures that made these new behaviors advantageous. Vertebrate studies have established a link between complex behaviors, particularly those associated with sociality, and evolutionary expansions of telencephalic higher brain centers. Enlarged higher brain centers have convergently evolved in groups such as the insects, in which multimodal integration and learning and memory centers called the mushroom bodies have become greatly elaborated in at least four independent lineages. Is it possible that similar selective pressures acting on equivalent behavioral outputs drove the evolution of large higher brain centers in all bilaterians? Sociality has greatly impacted brain evolution in vertebrates such as primates, but it has not been a major driver of higher brain center enlargement in insects. However, feeding behaviors [healyje: i.e. predation] requiring flexibility and learning are associated with large higher brain centers in both phyla. Selection for the ability to support behavioral flexibility appears to be a common thread underlying the evolution of large higher brain centers, but the precise nature of these computations and behaviors may vary.

Abstract of Challenges in structural approaches to cell modeling

Computational modeling is essential for structural characterization of biomolecular mechanisms across the broad spectrum of scales. Adequate understanding of biomolecular mechanisms inherently involves our ability to model them. Structural modeling of individual biomolecules and their interactions has been rapidly progressing. However, in terms of the broader picture, the focus is shifting toward larger systems, up to the level of a cell. Such modeling involves a more dynamic and realistic representation of the interactomes in vivo, in a crowded cellular environment, as well as membranes and membrane proteins, and other cellular components. Structural modeling of a cell complements computational approaches to cellular mechanisms based on differential equations, graph models, and other techniques to model biological networks, imaging data, etc. Structural modeling along with other computational and experimental approaches will provide a fundamental understanding of life at the molecular level and lead to important applications to biology and medicine. A cross section of diverse approaches presented in this review illustrates the developing shift from the structural modeling of individual molecules to that of cell biology. Studies in several related areas are covered: biological networks; automated construction of three-dimensional cell models using experimental data; modeling of protein complexes; prediction of non-specific and transient protein interactions; thermodynamic and kinetic effects of crowding; cellular membrane modeling; and modeling of chromosomes. The review presents an expert opinion on the current state-of-the-art in these various aspects of structural modeling in cellular biology, and the prospects of future developments in this emerging field.

Interactome

Molecular interactions can occur between molecules belonging to different biochemical families (proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, carbohydrates, etc.) and also within a given family. Whenever such molecules are connected by physical interactions, they form molecular interaction networks that are generally classified by the nature of the compounds involved. Most commonly, interactome refers to protein–protein interaction (PPI) network (PIN) or subsets thereof. For instance, the Sirt-1 protein interactome and Sirt family second order interactome[4][5] is the network involving Sirt-1 and its directly interacting proteins where as second order interactome illustrates interactions up to second order of neighbors (Neighbors of neighbors). Another extensively studied type of interactome is the protein–DNA interactome, also called a gene-regulatory network, a network formed by transcription factors, chromatin regulatory proteins, and their target genes. Even metabolic networks can be considered as molecular interaction networks: metabolites, i.e. chemical compounds in a cell, are converted into each other by enzymes, which have to bind their substrates physically.

In fact, all interactome types are interconnected. For instance, protein interactomes contain many enzymes which in turn form biochemical networks. Similarly, gene regulatory networks overlap substantially with protein interaction networks and signaling networks.

...

The yeast interactome, i.e. all protein–protein interactions among proteins of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has been estimated to contain between 10,000 and 30,000 interactions. A reasonable estimate may be on the order of 20,000 interactions. Larger estimates often include indirect or predicted interactions, often from affinity purification/mass spectrometry (AP/MS) studies.[6]

...

In 2010, the most "complete" gene interactome produced to date was compiled from about 5.4 million two-gene comparisons to describe "the interaction profiles for ~75% of all genes in the budding yeast", with ~170,000 gene interactions.

healyje -- "And some folks here seem not to understand or underestimate the sheer power of evolution..."

Why aren't we non-conscious robotic creatures, like zombies, reacting and planning on a non-conscious level?

My troll is to bitch slap the long-winded who write poorly