Re: Memory (was Sex vs. sleep)

From: Anders Sandberg (asa@nada.kth.se)
Date: Sat Jul 03 1999 - 15:00:16 MDT


"Harvey Newstrom" <newstrom@newstaffinc.com> writes:

> Recent research indicates that idiot-savants that have photographic memories
> do not have this filter. Everything they see is recorded permanently. It
> is theorized that this is the root of many of their problems. Instead of
> generalizing data into patterns that can be used to understand new events of
> the same pattern, these people record every single event without
> generalizing them into patterns. They can recall perfectly hundreds of
> prior events, but when the same thing happens again, they are at a loss to
> predict the outcome.
>
> When transhumans develop perfect memories, I think such memories need to be
> kept accessible, but that generalization and pattern matching need to be
> maintained.

You could have two memory caches, one "external" storing all the
primary data (including mental state stuff etc) but doesn't change at
all, one "internal" to the main cognitive process that generalizes and
grows. As you recall something, you could consciously dip into the
external memory that matches it best. A bit like using a remembrance
agent or take a look in your old mail.

-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Anders Sandberg                                      Towards Ascension!
asa@nada.kth.se                            http://www.nada.kth.se/~asa/
GCS/M/S/O d++ -p+ c++++ !l u+ e++ m++ s+/+ n--- h+/* f+ g+ w++ t+ r+ !y


This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Fri Nov 01 2002 - 15:04:22 MST