Comments on: Brainless slime mold uses external spatial ‘memory’ to navigate complex environments

By: rick

rick — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 12:21:24 +0000

the achievement and maintenance of the particular complex phenomenon within a given set of environmental constraints.

By: rick

rick — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 12:18:20 +0000

The externalization/ internalization process for a significant function is worth noting. I suspect many of the elemental functions necessary too achieve life, consciouness, intelligence, or sociality start as externalized or virtual services. After a population of agents virtually prove the value of relying on whatever external agent or environmental aspect produces that service, (here’s the tricky part) a separate event manages to internalize a structure capable of ensuring production of the function / service under more unpredictable circumstances. In this manner, the evolution and development of life, consciousness, and intelligence could be shown to be possible through a number of paths, as long as they all end up in the same place: the assembly of the critical set of elemental services necessary to support

By: Bri

Bri — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 23:29:59 +0000

No deficient is too strong. Mentally challenged slime mold will do! Thank you.

By: Bri

Bri — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 23:26:37 +0000

My robot slimed me!

By: Chris P. Kareem

Chris P. Kareem — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 22:59:44 +0000

The same could be said about humans.

By: Ian Clarke

Ian Clarke — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 22:48:33 +0000

Would you prefer “mentally deficient”? :-)

By: Buddy

Buddy — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 19:32:43 +0000

It’s not “memory” or “will” or “navigation” anymore than electricity following the least path of resistance or water seeking it’s own level.

By: Bri

Bri — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 14:20:46 +0000

Stop calling me brainless!!!!!