The Computer and the Brain by Neumann, John von -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Title Page Copyright Page Dedication CONTENTS FOREWORD TO THE THIRD EDITION FOREWORD TO THE SECOND EDITION PREFACE INTRODUCTION PART 1 THE COMPUTER

The Analog Procedure

The Conventional Basic Operations Unusual Basic Operations

The Digital Procedure

Markers, Their Combinations and Embodiments Digital Machine Types and Their Basic Components Parallel and Serial Schemes The Conventional Basic Operations

Logical Control

Plugged Control Logical Tape Control The Principle of Only One Organ for Each Basic Operation The Consequent Need for a Special Memory Organ Control by “Control Sequence” Points Memory-Stored Control Modus Operandi of the Memory-Stored Control Mixed Forms of Control

Mixed Numerical Procedures

Mixed Representations of Numbers. Machines Built on This Basis

Precision

Reasons for the High (Digital) Precision Requirements

Characteristics of Modern Analog Machines Characteristics of Modern Digital Machines

Active Components; Questions of Speed Number of Active Components Required Memory Organs. Access Times and Memory Capacities Memory Registers Built from Active Organs The Hierarchic Principle for Memory Organs Memory Components; Questions of Access Complexities of the Concept of Access Time The Principle of Direct Addressing

PART 2 THE BRAIN

Simplified Description of the Function of the Neuron The Nature of the Nerve Impulse

The Process of Stimulation The Mechanism of Stimulating Pulses by Pulses; Its Digital Character Time Characteristics of Nerve Response, Fatigue, and Recovery Size of a Neuron. Comparisons with Artificial Components Energy Dissipation. Comparisons with Artificial Components Summary of Comparisons

Stimulation Criteria

The Simplest—Elementary Logical More Complicated Stimulation Criteria The Threshold The Summation Time Stimulation Criteria for Receptors

The Problem of Memory within the Nervous System

Principles for Estimating the Capacity of the Memory in the Nervous System Memory Capacity Estimates with These Stipulations Various Possible Physical Embodiments of the Memory Analogies with Artificial Computing Machines The Underlying Componentry of the Memory Need Not Be the Same as That of the Basic Active Organs

Digital and Analog Parts in the Nervous System

Role of the Genetic Mechanism in the Above Context

Codes and Their Role in the Control of the Functioning of a Machine

The Concept of a Complete Code The Concept of a Short Code The Function of a Short Code

The Logical Structure of the Nervous System

Importance of the Numerical Procedures Interaction of Numerical Procedures with Logic Reasons for Expecting High Precision Requirements

Nature of the System of Notations Employed: Not Digital but Statistical

Arithmetical Deterioration. Roles of Arithmetical and Logical Depths Arithmetical Precision or Logical Reliability, Alternatives Other Statistical Traits of the Message System That Could Be Used

The Language of the Brain Not the Language of Mathematics

← Prev
Back
Next →

← Prev
Back
Next →