Dear all - I support Joseph's remarks and would suggest that information in general is a process that unfortunately is formulated as a noun. Inspired by Bucky Fuller's I think I am a verb I suggest that "Information is a verb" It is a verb because it describes a process. Although that solves one problem we need to be able to describe a set of signs that have the potential to initiate the process of informing through interpretation. I would not suggest we create another word but recognize that the word information has many meanings and that when it is describing a process it has a verb-like quality to it and when it describes a set of sign that have the potential to be interpreted and hence become information it is acting as a noun. I would also suggest that a simple definition of the term information is not possible because its meaning is so context dependent. This is true of all words but even more so for information. For those that agree with my sentiments the above is information and for those that do not it is nonsense. My best wishes to both groups, Bob Logan ______________________
Robert K. Logan Prof. Emeritus - Physics - U. of Toronto Chief Scientist - sLab at OCAD http://utoronto.academia.edu/RobertKLogan www.physics.utoronto.ca/Members/logan www.researchgate.net/profile/Robert_Logan5/publications On 2014-12-04, at 6:40 AM, Joseph Brenner wrote: > Dear Dr. Isiegas, > > I will add my support to the extended concept of information that inheres in > the work of Robert Ulanowicz and John Collier. I would just add that I like > to call it information-as-process, to call attention to its 'structure' being > dynamic, with individual neurones involved in a cyclic (better spiral or > sinusoidal) movement between states of activation and inhibition. I have > ascribed an extension of logic to this form of alternating actual and > potential states in complex processes at all levels of reality. > > Best wishes, > > Joseph B. > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert E. Ulanowicz" <u...@umces.edu> > To: "Carolina Isiegas" <cisie...@gmail.com> > Cc: <fis@listas.unizar.es> > Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2014 6:30 PM > Subject: Re: [Fis] Neuroinformation? > > > Dear Dr. Isiegas: > > I envision neuroinformation as the mutual information of the neuronal > network where synaptic connections are weighted by the frequencies of > discharge between all pairs of neurons. This is directly analogous to a > network of trophic exchanges among an ecosystem, as illustrated in > <http://people.biology.ufl.edu/ulan/pubs/SymmOvhd.PDF>. > > Please note that this measure is different from the conventional > sender-channel-receiver format of communications theory. It resembles more > the "structural information" inhering in the neuronal network. John > Collier (also a FISer) calls such information "enformation" to draw > attention to its different nature. > > With best wishes for success, > > Bob Ulanowicz > >> Dear list, >> >> I have been reading during the last year all these interesting >> exchanges. Some of them terrific discussions! Given my scientific >> backgound >> (Molecular Neuroscience), I would like to hear your point of view on the >> topic of neuroinformation, how information "exists" within the Central >> Nervous Systems. My task was experimental; I was interested in >> investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying learning and memory, >> specifically, the role of the cAMP-PKA-CREB signaling pathway in such >> brain >> functions (In Ted Abel´s Lab at the University of Pennsylvania, where I >> spent 7 years). I generated several genetically modified mice in which I >> could regulate the expression of this pathway in specific brain regions >> and >> in which I studied the effects of upregulation or downregulation at the >> synaptic and behavioral levels. However, I am conscious that the >> "information flow" within the mouse Nervous System is far more complex >> that >> in the "simple" pathway that I was studying...so, my concrete question for >> you "Fishers" or "Fisers", how should we contemplate the micro and macro >> structures of information within the neural realm? what is >> Neuroinformation? >> >> Best wishes, >> >> >> -- >> Carolina Isiegas >> _______________________________________________ >> Fis mailing list >> Fis@listas.unizar.es >> http://listas.unizar.es/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fis >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Fis mailing list > Fis@listas.unizar.es > http://listas.unizar.es/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fis > _______________________________________________ > Fis mailing list > Fis@listas.unizar.es > http://listas.unizar.es/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fis
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