zlacker

>>geox+(OP)
> The 3D map covers a volume of about one cubic millimetre, one-millionth of a whole brain, and contains roughly 57,000 cells and 150 million synapses — the connections between neurons.

This is great and provides a hard data point for some napkin math on how big a neural network model would have to be to emulate the human brain. 150 million synapses / 57,000 neurons is an average of 2,632 synapses per neuron. The adult human brain has 100 (+- 20) billion or 1e11 neurons so assuming the average rate of synapse/neuron holds, that's 2.6e14 total synapses.

Assuming 1 parameter per synapse, that'd make the minimum viable model several hundred times larger than state of the art GPT4 (according to the rumored 1.8e12 parameters). I don't think that's granular enough and we'd need to assume 10-100 ion channels per synapse and I think at least 10 parameters per ion channel, putting the number closer to 2.6e16+ parameters, or 4+ orders of magnitude bigger than GPT4.

There are other problems of course like implementing neuroplasticity, but it's a fun ball park calculation. Computing power should get there around 2048: >>38919548

>>throwu+J7
On the other hand, a significant amount of neural circuitry seems to be dedicated to "housekeeping" needs, and to functions such as locomotion.

So we might need significantly less brain matter for general intelligence.

>>cybera+Xd
Or perhaps the housekeeping of existing in the physical world is a key aspect of general intelligence.

>>alanbe+Gt
Isn't that kinda obvious? A baby that grows up in a sensory deprivation tank does not… develop, as most intelligent persons do.

>>Intral+0J
> A baby that grows up in a sensory deprivation tank

Now imagine a baby that uses an artificial lung and receives nutrients directly, moves on a wheeled car (no need for balance), does not have proprioception, or a sense of smell (avoiding some very legacy brain areas).

I think, that such a baby still can achieve consciousness.

>>cybera+El3
I doubt it really takes that much brain power to move around complex environments, even using legs. Insects manage to do it.