On Intelligence By Jeff Hawkins Chapter 4 and 5

In Chapters 4 and 5 from the book On Intelligence, author Jeff Hawkins discusses the idea that the neocortex of our brain is responsible for our intelligence.  The neocortex has billions of neurons that constantly make probabilistic predictions about what is about to happen.  These predictions draw from our memories of patterns and sequences that we experience throughout our lives.  We can often recall complete memories with only partial inputs given to us by temporal patterns.  Temporal patterns are small details that bring entire memories back.  Hawkins explains there are 3 properties of cortical memory, which include storing sequences, auto associative recall and invariant representations.  Our brains use stored memories to constantly make predictions about everything we see, feel and hear.  When we notice something is different our neurons set off low level sensories that lets us know something is different.  This is the primary function of the neocortex.

We experienced something similar to Hawkins example of  neocortex/pattern behavior example at our home this week.  Our back door knob broke and needed to be replaced.  The old door knob was the fancy french type handle that you pulled up on or pushed down on to open.  To save a few dollars I purchased a traditional door knob for its replacement.  My two boys complained for a week that they are reaching to open the door in the way that they did for the old handle.  Apparently it took their neocortex a while to recognize they needed a new pattern of behavior if they were going to open the back door. 🙂

test Filed under Uncategorized | Tags: LRND 6820 | Comment (1)