I was inspired by a dream I had one night in 1975. A "man from the future" was escorting me on a tour of his "spaceship". The ship had no pilot or navigator, but was controlled by a sentient computer on the flight deck of the craft. One feature of this computer was an array of rectangular " tanks", each labeled "Allied Chemical Corporation," which, I was told held a "gel" like chemical that formed the "molecular memory" of the device. I was also told that the machine was "memory based" in function rather than "processor based".

The dream intrigued me. Even though it would be impossible to get enough memory in one place in 1975, the challenge to work out how such a machine could function with a large memory base rather than a processor was irresistible. Not only could there be a future application of the concepts, but it also would shed more light on actual human brain function, which tied in with my interests in Psychology

Most of my research consisted of reviewing Psychology texts while concentrating on the actual results of the reported experiments, while ignoring the author's opinions and conclusions. I also found that I could observe my own brain functions and made careful observations of my thought and brain processes when confronted with various situations

I knew I was on the "right track" when I began to see new research results that were predicted by my early diagrams and models. I noticed also that certain symptoms consistent with known brain disorders and malfunctions, such as Senile Dementia would result when I worked through these early constructs. I also could begin to see why it was necessary to have emotions and where they came from.

It soon became apparent that the principles and philosophies of conventional computers were not compatible with a brain based system. First of all, the brain is "memory based" in function rather than "processor based" as conventional computers. That is---a "memory based" system KNOWS, for example, that 2 plus 2 equals 4, rather than simply adding 2 and 2 "pulses" and getting a result of 4. The Brain is also what I call "reverse programmed" that is instead of being given a sequence of instructions---such as Step1: do this, step 2:do that etc. to move from situation "A" to situation "B" as in conventional computers, a reversed programmed system is programmed by---DON'T do this, don't do that---Thus permitting the system to reach its goal by eliminating other options---A big difference. Sure it uses a lot more memory, but brain like systems have memory in abundance.

This reverse programming concept may also be the key to CREATIVITY, a function thought uncharacteristic of machines.---as many more options are possible for the device to solve problems than the "prescribed" single course in conventional programs.

It is only at the present is enough memory available to build a practical "memory based" sentient computer. The amount of memory needed is not as astronomically high as once thought. I estimate, that depending upon how the device is functioning, it will need to save from one to 10 Megabytes of RAM per second---with 4meg/sec being the probable number. The machine should have the capability to do this for a period of time of 48 to 72 hours, but 24 hours is good enough for a minimal system. This works out to 864,000 Megabytes at 10 Megabytes/sec.---per 24 hours.

When the RAM memory is full the machine will have to "sleep" for a while---when the RAM is stored onto the "primary stack" memory that could consist of an array of CD ROM memory disks. Yes this "primary stack" memory will grow and grow, but several years of data still will not cause insurmountable space problems for the hardware---technology is making memory storage hardware smaller all the time--new technology can be installed before the machine grows too big.----

Part 1: Primary Memory, "The Stack"

In order to understand the Ray brain model, we must first examine the structure and operation of the "Primary Memory Stack", which is the core of the entire system.

This "Stack" is a vertical assembly of horizontally linked (associated) data fields that can be called "patterns". A pattern is a "frame" of data consisting of several "cells" or fields of data that represent the sum total of sensory input to the brain system for a given "instant" of time.

In each pattern there is a "Visual' cell, an "Auditory" cell, "Olfactory" and " Gustory"cells. There are also "Tactile", "Position" and "System Status" cells. If any of the cells of a pattern is "accessed" or "called up", then the entire Pattern will be "called up".

These patterns are "stacked " vertically like dishes on a shelf. The stack is continually being added to from the "top", forming a vertical sequences of remembered "events" Everything is recorded in the proper time sequence, even Mentally constructed patterns and the various brain thought operations.

The "Stack Scanner" accesses the individual patterns that may be called up during the brain functions. This scanner has a "range" of sensitivity of so many patterns above and below a "focus". Input data is compared to all patterns within this range. If there are any "matches" the "pattern" is "activated". This causes the "focus" of the scanner to move to and "access" the activated pattern, making the pattern available for further processing. The "range" of the scanner also moves with the focus, making other sequences of patterns eligible for "activation" in response to matching input.

The accessed pattern remains in its location in the stack.The Scanner makes a DUPLICATE of it and sends it on for further processing The duplicate can then be altered, modified and used to mentally construct other patterns. Often this duplicate will be stored at the top of the stack as part of a new sequence of patterns. Thus, the memory stack has many duplicates of patterns originally input much earlier, and still in existence in lower regions of the stack. Thus, as especially, is the case with more recent data, older, often used data is usually near the top of the stack and within the "initial" range of the scanner.

If input does NOT activate a "match" in any of the patterns within the Scanner's current range, it will move up in down along the stack, in slow, ever widening scans, until a match is found. If no match is found it will move wider still, generating a "feeling" of "uneasiness" in the mind. Thus we have the definition of one form of "emotion" which we can call "Fear-1" the fear of the "unknown"--as opposed to "Fear-2" the anticipation of a painful event. Thus "Fear-1" can be defined, functionally as what is felt when the stack scanner is scanning "wide" with no results.

The motion of the scanner has a direct relationship to what we call "consciousness" and, co-incidentally, brainwaves at different states of consciousness seem to mirror the type of movement expected of the scanner as it "moves" up and down the stack. The random "spiked" erratic waves of the conscious "beta state" mirror the to and fro accessing of various pattern memories stored at different locations. The slow gentle periodic wave of the alpha state mirrors the scanner's generally stable position wits slow periodic scans when the brain is semi or unconscious

The Input Filters

Input to the brain system is "filtered" before it is "processed". Input comes from the sensory systems--eyes, ears etc. The systems work pretty much the same for each sense. Using Vision for example, the data immediately goes to an "input buffer". This input buffer will BLOCK any new input that matches the "pixel" pattern in the buffer. Only new data that does not match the activated pixel patterns will be "passed through" This is why objects tend to disappear when we stare directly at them for a second or two. This is also why our eyes make small "scans" of what it is looking at, so as to present new images to the input buffer and defeat the blocking effect. This is also why steady background sounds are soon ignored--as the auditory input buffer works the same way.

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