Neurobiological Computation and Synthetic Intelligence

Abstract. Cognitivist approaches to the development of engineered systems having properties of autonomy and intelligence are limited in their lack of grounding and emphasis upon linguistically derived models of the nature of intelligence. An alternative approach to the synthesis of intelligence is to take inspiration more directly from biological nervous systems. Such an approach, however, must go far beyond twentieth century models of artificial neural networks (ANNs), which greatly oversimplify brain and neural functions. The synthesis of intelligence based upon biological foundations must draw upon and become part of the ongoing rapid expansion of the science of biological intelligence. This includes an exploration of broader conceptions of information processing, including different modalities of information processing in neural and glial substrates. The medium of designed intelligence must also expand to include biological, organic and inorganic molecular systems capable of realising asynchronous, analog and self-* architectures that digital computers can only ever simulate. 1