major difference is the dynamic nature of the grouping of neurons in
response to external inputs. The Object-Oriented programming parallel
would be to have class definitions dynamically reforming in response
to the evolution of a program.
Figure. An Object-Oriented view of Consciousness.
Thus Consciousness does not have a program in the old fashioned
sense of the word. It has a dynamically changing, event driven
program with program fragments in each of the parts of
Consciousness. These program fragments can dynamically link
together in response to events to take Consciousness from one state to
another. The pattern of linkings is driven by a complex set of
interconnections between the parts of Consciousness. Dynamic
Linking is the preferred way of creating a computer program (a .EXE
program) in modern computing.
There are two major features of Consciousness that are of crucial
importance in defining a computer representation of Consciousness at
this level of discussion:
1. Consciousness can marshal its resources to allocate more
resources to important tasks that it faces.
2. Consciousness can be “rewired” to adapt to meet short-term
needs and to meet long-term needs.
These features tell us about the computer mechanisms or mini-
programs driving the time development of Consciousness (the way in
which a Consciousness evolves from state to state in time).
The first point tells us that a correct Probabilistic Computer model of
Consciousness must be able to dynamically reallocate its resources in
response to inputs.
The second point tells us that the mini-programs that describe the
changes in time of the state of Consciousness must be able to change
itself. The LISP programming language is an example of a language
whose programs are capable of changing themselves as they execute
(evolve). Another way of implementing this feature at the hardware
level is to say the computer can rewire itself to meet new needs. In fact
this process is known to happen in the human brain. Human brains can
rewire themselves over time if a brain is damaged or in response to
stimuli.
These additional features make the Probabilistic Computer a suitable
model for Consciousness.