|
Magnetic resonance imaging can achieve roughly 1mm resolution in an intact human brain. This is not high enough if we want
to record the information that involves cellular organization, intra-cellular connections, subcellular structures such as
mitochondria, nucleus and nucleolus, vescicles, synapses and so on, since the size of these structures are in the range of
nm to mm. There is no limit in how far we should go toward total representation of the structure and function of real human
brain.
Storage Capability
Combined with physical preservation of human body, information preservation should be as detailed as possible, depending on
the available imaging devices mentioned above. These devices should include, but not limited to, EM, CT, fMRI, PET et al.
There is a technical problem in storing these data. The biggest cartridge now available is from megabite to gigabite range.
We will need to develop bigger storage capacity for all data mentioned above.
The Linkage Between Functional Memory and Recording Device
We may have a pool of data that may be the anatomical and functional. They need to be liked through electronic device to the
human brain. Sophisticated recognition algorithms needs to be developed to link digitallized memory to the brain.
The linkage between downloaded memory and back to reanimated brain.
The uploading methods are still in the stage of imagination, although we observed the concrete progress in the development
of biorobots in University of Washington Biorobotics Laboratory. They are trying to
develop science, technology, and
human resources at the interface between robotics and biological movement systems.
Click here for University of Washington Biorobotics Laboratory web site.
Replacement of human brain with computer.
In May 1997, IBM's Deep Blue Supercomputer defeat the World Chess Champion, Garry Kasparov. This suggests that sooner or later,
computer may replace human brain function in many if not all ways. The assumption is that the mind is simply an information
processor. Therefore, any computer with sufficient speed and capacity can implement the mind of an uploaded person. Of course,
the speed and capacity of current hardware is far below what is required.
Research in neural networks continues to advance
and all such studies help answer important questions in brain simulation and maybe in the future mind uploading. We foresee
the complete simulation of small nervous circuits or systems that may function like the nematode C. elegans, which has on
the order of 100 neurons in its nervous system, and the medicinal leech, which has about two orders of magnitude more. Detailed
physiological and modeling studies of such simple nervous systems will be invaluable in determining which physical characteristics
are functionally relevant to brain function and for brain simulation.
|
