I wrote an article about simulating consciousness (found here) talking about the subjective I experience that we all (presumably) retain as part of the software package running on the hardware of the brain. The gist was basically that examining the hardware of the brain, and mapping the neural processes within the mind, physically, can not explain the 'ghost in the machine' concept of consciousness.
In the article I went over the idea of recreating the 'software' part of the brain within traditional computer software. I mean, why would it be any different? There is nothing magical about the constituents of the brain, such as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, etc,; it is merely configured in a extremely complex way. So, what if humanity could recreate the connections of neurons and potential, and boot it up? Would we get something conscious like our own minds?
This aspect aside, there are biologists that have recreated the contents (simulated, actually) of a bacterial cell (bacteria are single-cell organisms, anyhow). Plus, they have also mapped out the entire human genome. So, one can conclude that at some point, humanity will have the ability to map out all cells, including brain cells (neurons), given enough time and computing power.
As of yesterday, the government is funding a program (Tissue Chip for Drug Testing) to peer into the inner-workings of the body. This is accomplished by creating a small microcosm of biological events. I will cite here a piece explaining it better than me butchering it:
An artificial, working brain smaller than a grain of rice, a heart on a stick the size of a micro SD card, and many more “organ chips” could help doctors peer into the inner workings of the human body. Today DARPA and the FDA announced a new $70 million program called Tissue Chip for Drug Testing, aiming to study the micro-environments of various human organs without ever using a scalpel.
.... This project asks scientists to build 10 different organs-on-chips, link them together to mimic the real body, and design software that can automatically control fluid flow and perform analysis...
...“Development of a brain model that contains neurons and all three barriers between blood, brain and cerebral spinal fluid, using entirely human cells, will represent a fundamental advance in and of itself,” John Wikswo, leader of the project and director of the Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, said in a statement......
Now, this raises some interesting concepts. If we can simulate using a brain model, why could we not build an entire brain, complete with inputs such as the 5 senses? Would it have a mind as we do? If we built it out of silicon instead of the basic elements found in life, but performed the same role, one way or another, would it contain a conscious I such as we have? If this interests you make sure to read the page on simulating consciousness. Sources are below.
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Image: http://ispr.info/files/2010/11/natostation.jpg
Quoted Source: http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-07/new-microbrain-and-other-organ-simulators-could-improve-drug-testing
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