On Mon, 25 Oct 2004 18:11:48 +0100, David Longley
<David at longley.demon.co.uk> in comp.ai.philosophy wrote:
>In article <417dd0c6.20396445 at netnews.att.net>, Lester Zick
><lesterDELzick at worldnet.att.net> writes
>>On Mon, 25 Oct 2004 11:56:47 -0400, Wolf Kirchmeir
>><wwolfkir at sympatico.ca> in comp.ai.philosophy wrote:
>>>>>Richard F Hall wrote:
>>>>>>> On 11 Oct 2004 13:14:48 -0700, rscanlon at nycap.rr.com (ray scanlon)
>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>There is a continual attempt by the religionists to show that the
>>>>>brain is other than the expression of the DNA. The DNA constructs a
>>>>>precisely connected brain and sets the rules for synaptic growth and
>>>>>strengthening. These rules provide the structure with which the brain
>>>>>alters itself to adjust to the exterior world.
>>>>>>>> It's true, the dog's brain is a different basic design than a human
>>>> brain and each of these designs carry out different functions. [....]
>>>>>>Nope.
>>>>>>The main functions of a dog's brain and a human's brain are exactly the
>>>same: to control the animal's movements, to seek food and sex, to react
>>>to and control fellow members of the pack, etc.
>>>>>>Humans have a few bits that are more complex than the corresponding bits
>>>in a dog, but the converse is true also. There's is no basic difference.
>>>The differences are all on the surface - literally, for once.
>>>>Well, let's just say that the brains of some humans are the same as
>>dogs in functional terms, shall we Wolf?
>>>>Regards - Lester
>>Human brains are also remarkably like rat brains which is one of the
>reasons why most neuroscience research is done on rats. Because rats and
>dogs are macrosmatic most visual neuroscience is done on frogs, cats or
>small primates. The key point to appreciate is that there are remarkable
>homologies between all higher animals when it comes to central nervous
>system anatomy and function and this is true not just of the mammals.
>The environment has shaped these homologies and differences just as it
>continues to shape behaviour. One has to look to homologies in
>anatomical structure and environmental pressures to understand
>brain-behaviour relations.
So, we should look to homologies in brain structure between you and
rats to explain your behavior, David? If you say so.
Regards - Lester
