What is a thought made of? Scientists look beyond neurons—and raise new questions about AI
A familiar song can bring back a memory from decades ago. A particular smell can recall a person or place. And a frightening memory can trigger a simultaneous emotional and physical response almost instantly. Computers, too, can store and retrieve information. But is biological memory fundamentally different?
Scientists are exploring the nature of thoughts and whether they are fundamentally distinct from biological processes. A new study by researchers Dr. Gerard Marx and Chaim Gilon challenges the notion that thoughts arise solely from electrical signals in neurons. The pair proposes a broader mechanism for memory, encompassing astrocytes, extracellular materials and chemical signals such as ions and neurotransmitters.
This "Tripartite Mechanism of Memory" posits that the brain encodes experience not just through electrical impulses but also through chemical interactions, which imbue memory with emotional context. The authors argue that biological memory integrates emotional and bodily responses, suggesting that neural activity alone cannot fully account for the emergence of thought and consciousness.
By comparing biological memory to artificial intelligence, the researchers highlight potential differences in the physical underpinnings of intelligence. While computers store and retrieve information via electronic hardware, the study suggests that biological memory may rely on the intricate chemistry of living brain tissue. This distinction is crucial as AI systems increasingly mimic human cognition.
The authors caution that simply increasing computational power does not guarantee the emergence of biological-like consciousness, as electronic systems lack the emotional and biochemical complexity characteristic of living organisms. Their work does not aim to solve the mystery of consciousness but rather offers a biochemical perspective on how memory and thought may arise from brain cells and their chemical environment.
By examining the mechanisms that link experience to memory and emotion, the study opens a new avenue for understanding the relationship between biological processes and cognitive phenomena.
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