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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[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 45 points 1 month 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 1 month ago (3 children)
[–] No1@aussie.zone 7 points 1 month ago

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

[–] Naz@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 month 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 1 month ago

Maybe I am one.

[–] ripcord@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

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

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 42 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I propose the book is the cause of the story.

[–] ameancow@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

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

[–] monkeyman512@lemmy.world 26 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month 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 15 points 1 month 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 1 month ago (1 children)

Updated my comment with link.

[–] rycee@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Awesome, thanks a lot!

[–] MadMadBunny@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 month ago (2 children)

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

[–] monkeyman512@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Updated my comment with link.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month 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 1 month ago

Thanks. Updated my comment.

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

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

[–] monkeyman512@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Thanks. Updated my comment.

[–] Valmond@lemmy.world 16 points 1 month 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 1 month 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 1 month 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.

[–] humble_boatsman@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Getting real ghost in the shell vibes

[–] Naz@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 month ago

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

Torment nexus go brrrrrrr

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

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

[–] SlartyBartFast@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 month ago

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

[–] Sgarcnl@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

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

[–] fittedsyllabi@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Nah, it’s weed, fam.

[–] lilas105@ttrpg.network 1 points 1 month ago

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