this post was submitted on 16 Nov 2025
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An MIT neuroscientist proposes that brain waves perform analog computations that give rise to thought and consciousness, and that the restructuring and strenghening of the neural connectome is a separate function that affects future thought but is too slow to be our main processing method.

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[–] lilas105@ttrpg.network 1 points 21 hours ago

Brain activity is the result of electromagnetic waves, so yes?

[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 45 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The scientist may be right...

But that blog also thinks aliens are here and all types of other crazy shit

[–] Xanthobilly@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago (3 children)
[–] No1@aussie.zone 7 points 3 days ago

I'm pretty sure my neighbours are reptilian....

[–] Naz@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I mean, if they were here, that would also imply that they could speak and understand English, use Linux, and post on Lemmy.

The probability of travelling interdimensionally only to shit-post on a niche message board is alarmingly high ;)

[–] Xanthobilly@lemmy.world 0 points 3 days ago

Maybe I am one.

[–] ripcord@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago

Without credible evidence, then no. Not as far as we know.

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 41 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I propose the book is the cause of the story.

[–] ameancow@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

The internet is a dead wasteland of book deals being promoted.

[–] monkeyman512@lemmy.world 25 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (3 children)

Seems plausible. Reminds me of an article from long ago where a person used a training algorithm to get an FPGA to produce the behavior he wanted. The upside being that he got the behavior he wanted using less of the FPGAs capacity then a normally designed circuit would require. The downside was that it wasn't reproducible on other FPGA chips. Whatever made it work required the subtle unique variations of that specific piece of silicon.

Edit: Thanks to tips from peoples comments I found it: https://www.damninteresting.com/on-the-origin-of-circuits/

[–] rycee@lemmy.world 14 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I have some vague recollection of this article. If I recall correctly the generated circuit consisted of two (or more) subcircuits that were not physically connected but managed to communicate using induced radio waves (which is definitely not something you would typically do with an FPGA).

[–] monkeyman512@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Updated my comment with link.

[–] rycee@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago

Awesome, thanks a lot!

[–] MadMadBunny@lemmy.ca 5 points 3 days ago (2 children)

This is interesting… I’d love to read that article

[–] monkeyman512@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Updated my comment with link.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Try a search for "Dr. Adrian Thompson FPGA". Seems to be exactly what OP is talking about.

[–] monkeyman512@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Thanks. Updated my comment.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Google spit tons of results for Dr. Adrian Thompson. That it?

[–] monkeyman512@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Thanks. Updated my comment.

[–] Valmond@lemmy.world 16 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Sure, why not ?

Now prove it.

Or at least try to show it with experiments or something. Ideas are cheap and there are loads of ideas explaining consciousness waiting to be disproven or the lycky winner.

[–] artifex@piefed.social 30 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The main scientist in the article has been working on the problem for over 20 years and has one of the most cited articles in neuroscience. It’s a bit further along than just “an idea”: they already have experimental evidence for some of the simpler mechanisms about brainwave propagation and they’re now working on experiments to try and isolate higher functions.

[–] Valmond@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Sure, but don't you think all the other ideas are not backed in similar ways by similarly respected people? Humanity have been thinking about this since forever.

I wish them all the luck, it's one of the most complicated matters out there after all.

Better load up my headphones with some binaural beats, looks like I'm going to Geniustown!!!

[–] fittedsyllabi@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

Nah, it’s weed, fam.

[–] humble_boatsman@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Getting real ghost in the shell vibes

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

A Japanese Manga from the late 80s whose protagonist use cyborg suits that they can infiltrate with their consciousness and all sorts of deep thought shit like that. Absolute masterpiece stuff.

A Japanese cyberpunk manga

[–] Naz@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 days ago

Oops, turns out you can actually full dive in real life

Torment nexus go brrrrrrr

[–] Sgarcnl@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago

This reminds me of the analog processors recently discussed in “century-old problem" of poor precision and impracticality.