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of such characteristics as we briefly review the various structural and procedural aspects of the human body. As an initial observation on the derivation of abstractions from the sensori-motor experience, we note that one of the oldest metaphysical concepts of the operation of the world is that of yin and yang; the complementary but opposing forces that ancient Chinese philosophy tells us are constituent ingredients of all things in the universe. They would seem to start within our most basic interactions with our physical ecosystems.

Smart Bricks and Mortar

The human body is comprised of a number of distinct but highly interrelated systems, such as the digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, endocrine and nervous systems. For such a complex array of operational components to support and preserve the living condition of the individual, we may look for some coordinating means. Indeed, a command and control facility for the human body is found in the body’s nervous system augmented by the endocrine system. There are two main components of the nervous system, the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system is comprised of the brain and the spinal cord, while the peripheral nervous system is comprised of a number of nerve bundles that connect the central nervous system to all parts of the body, largely through interconnections with the spinal cord. In a complementary fashion, the endocrine system provides an associated communication pathway interconnected to the nervous system at selected points that functions in the control of longer term behaviors of the human body.

At various points along the spinal cord, a total of 31 pairs of nerve bundles branch off and connect to various sensory and motor elements scattered throughout the body. In each pair, one nerve branch collects sensory input destined for the spinal cord and possibly the brain, while the other nerve branch can carry signals away from the brain and to the motor facilities, also scattered throughout the body.

While other organs and their contained processes are better understood, we recognize that the brain is the seat of the true uniqueness of the human species. The adaptation and accommodation facilities that the brain enables, and that the body supports through physical actions, provide Homo sapiens with a unique ability to adapt to and to thrive within the physical ecosystems in which the species exists. The study of the brain is the domain of disciplines such as neuroanatomy and neurology, which deal with study of the static and dynamic properties of the brain. The study of information processing by the brain is the domain of many other disciplines, but we’ll follow the current practice of organizing around the concept of cognitive science, wherein disciplines like anthropology, ethology, linguistics, psychology, its sub-discipline developmental psychology, and others bring their various, specific illustrations to the subject.

The seminal building blocks of the brain, and of the nerves that course throughout the body, are two specialized cell types called neurons and glia. From a computer science perspective, it’s interesting to draw the very general parallel that these elements allow the construction of an organic analogue with many of the characteristics of electronic computers. The glial cells form the structural and environmental support, while a variety of neuron cells form the various elements of the actual computer of the brain. We won’t consider the glial cells in much detail, other than to observe that they provide not only for the structural and environmental support of neurons, but they also provide for the electro-chemical isolation of neurons. This is accomplished through the creation of myelin sheaths, which serve to enhance the electrical conductivity of neurons and also to separate the neuron components so that instances of organic short circuits are minimized.

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