Miller’s Law states that the average human is capable of holding 5 to 9 objects at a time in their working memory;[i] however, individuals known as mental calculators or human computers are capable of performing extraordinary calculations without writing down a single thing. Truman Henry Safford was capable of squaring 18 digit numbers by the time that he was ten.[ii] These feats pale in comparison to the capabilities of modern computers. Even the average desktop computer is capable of calculating one million digits of pi in about 15 seconds and, unlike humans, can store and recall this number instantly. While fast computational speeds are something to envy, there are many aspects of the human brain that even the most powerful of modern computers cannot achieve.
The standout features of the human brain are its cognitive abilities: problem solving, language, abstract thought, and judgment.[iii] Humans are also capable of complex social and emotional processing, but our own brain has one major flaw. Unlike a computer, we can’t back up our brain and put it in a new body when we get old, or at least not yet. The ability to create digital copies of our brains might be the closest thing humans can get to immortality. However, the human brain is estimated to have around 86 billion neurons, which makes it an extremely difficult structure to replicate.iii Other animals have smaller amounts of neurons, which makes their brains easier to study and map. Caenorhabditis elegans (c. elegans), a type of non-parasitic roundworm that lives in temperate soil environments, have a 302 neuron brain, which makes it an ideal candidate for digital brain research.[iv]
Scientists, programmers, and tech enthusiasts have come together to create an organization known as OpenWorm with the goal of creating the world’s first digital life form. They have already mapped the 302 neurons and a basic program has been designed to mimic its behaviour. In their first attempt, OpenWorm has combined their code with a Lego Mindstorms EV3 model robot.[v] Much like the real worm, this robot copy has neurons that will fire appropriate responses to situations. The robot worm is capable of using its sonar sensor to detect when it is too close to obstacles and it will actively approach objects that alert its food sensor. V It was found that the robot’s movements were not random but rather appeared to be directly influenced by its environment. However, researchers at OpenWorm still say they have a long way to go on the project. Certain simplifications had to be made when programming neuron responses and the worm’s current robot body is incapable of recreating the same movements and manoeuvres as a real c. elegans.
OpenWorm isn’t the only research group developing digital minds: there are much larger research projects such as the Human Brain Project which is a European Union funded group and the BRAIN Initiative which is being funded by the Obama Administration. While OpenWorm is much smaller compared to these projects, it has the benefit of being open source which allows anyone to download the project components and contribute. Even if you can’t code or have little scientific background, OpenWorm is still looking for writers, artists, donors, or even people who are willing to spread news of the project.[vi] So if you’re interested in being a part of it, you can head over to the OpenWorm website, openworm.org, to lend a hand.
[i] Miller, G. A. (1956). “The magical number seven, plus or minus two: Some limits on our capacity for processing information”. Psychological Review 63 (2): 81–97.doi:10.1037/h0043158. PMID 13310704
[ii] W. W. Rouse Ball (1960) Calculating Prodigies, in Mathematical Recreations and Essays, Macmillan, New York, chapter 13.
[iii] Houzel, Suzana Herculano. “Transcript of “What Is so Special about the Human Brain?”” Ted. 1 June 2013. Web. 24 Feb. 2015. <http://www.ted.com/talks/suzana_herculano_houzel_what_is_so_special_about_the_human_brain/transcript?language=en>.
[iv] “What Is C. Elegans?” What Is C. Elegans?University of Minnesota. Web. 23 Feb. 2015. <https://www.cbs.umn.edu/research/resources/cgc/what-c-elegans>.
[v] Hamilton, Kristy. “Scientists Put A Worm’s Mind Into A Robot’s Body.” Scientists Put A Worm’s Mind Into A Robot’s Body. IFLScience, 14 Dec. 2014. Web. 23 Feb. 2015. <http://www.iflscience.com/technology/worms-mind-robot-body>.
[vi] “Get Involved with OpenWorm.”OpenWorm. OpenWorm. Web. 23 Feb. 2015. <http://www.openworm.org/get_involved.html>.
[Artificial Brain]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://es.ecwise.com/images/background1.jpg
