Włodzisław Duch (Department of Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń)
The astronomical complexity of the brain is unmatched in the known universe. The engineering approach to understanding is by creating artificial brains. Progress in this direction is briefly reviewed. All mental states result from neural dynamics of the brain. Understanding mental processes in a conceptual way, without understanding their underlying neurodynamics, will always be limited. Phenomics tries to describe phenotypes at all levels, from genetic to behavioral. A brief review of factors that influence brain development and facilitate building perceptual and cognitive skills, representation of concepts in the brain, will be presented. Neuroimaging allows for reading intentions and control of brain processes. Natural sciences got seriously engaged in research on consciousness, mind and inner world only with development of functional neuroimaging techniques showing brain processes during various tasks. As a result mental states are losing their private character. External observer can see and correctly interpret brain processes that have not yet become conscious or will never be conscious. Self, our personal identity, is one of many processes that brain is running. How are these processes implemented? Computational neuroscience is leading the way to show ho brain activity is linked to behavior.
