I don't understand why it is illogical? It is a kind of "loose coupling", ( see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coupling_(computer_science) and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loosely_Coupled ), an architecture where components can be joined together on demand. Loose coupling means low dependency and fewer undesirable side-effects. It is essential in order to achieve scalability, robustness and flexibility. A direct connection between cells instead of synapses could have disastrous consequences: one malfunctioning, damaged or infected cell could immediately affect the function of the whole system.
-J. -----Original Message----- From: Phil Henshaw Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2006 1:50 PM To: 'The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group' Subject: Re: [FRIAM] Neurons. Yes, the connection at synapses does seem to be a special case of how cells are connected generally, through the blood stream or other medium of exchange. That relationship, cells creating a larger system by 'floating messages in a bottle' to each other is this same extremely improbable means of running things that nature uses and seems completely illogical from a machine design point of view. When cells interact with each other they just dump stuff in the stream and grab stuff from the stream (or have it sucked out of them and pushed into them), but there's actually no connection between the cells. Phil Henshaw ¸¸¸¸.·´ ¯ `·.¸¸¸¸ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 680 Ft. Washington Ave NY NY 10040 tel: 212-795-4844 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] explorations: www.synapse9.com ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
