Computational Neuroscience
May 5th, 2012
I am studying the Master’s degree Computational Neuroscience in Berlin for a half year now. Previously, I was doing my Bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Computer Science in Bielefeld and was writing each semester about my experiences (in German). A post about Cognitive science in another blog inspired me to do so and I want to keep up with the tradition. Thus, here is my report about the first semester Computational Neuroscience! It is in English because the course of studies is also and it aims on attracting foreign students.
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To the topWerewolves, Free Beer and more
April 3rd, 2011
The last week I spent at the IK2011 in Günne for the second time. I already wrote many things about the spring school in the field of cognitive sciences and artificial intelligence in my article about the last year’s IK. But even if I do not repeat all this, there are some points to mention.
Play, Act and Learn and Eating, Fun and much more
March 20th, 2010
The last week was very exciting and I don’t really know where to begin. I was at the Interdisciplinary College (IK), a spring school with courses from the areas of Artificial Intelligence, Neuro Biology, Psychology, Cognitive Sciences and some other. This year’s focus theme was “Play, Act and Learn”. The event was placed in the Heinrich-Lübke-Haus in Günne at Lake Möhne.
How arises intelligent behavior?
February 19th, 2010
I believe that there is no easy answer to this question. Rather I suppose that intelligent behavior emerges from many simple, modular processes.
I just wrote my current model of intelligence down. “current”, because I evolve it continuously and adept it to newly gained knowledge. Even if I have some basic knowledge of artificial intelligence; I may not have the deepest knowledge of theories of mind, yet. Therefore I do not claim that my model has to be correct. However, it might be thought-provoking impulse. Particularly because I try to show the totality instead of grabbing one exact area and saying that this all what there is to intelligence.
Some Questions
June 17th, 2009
There are some questions which are on the one hand very interesting in my opinion and which on the other hand would bring us a big step forward in the area of Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Science, if we can answer them. However, it won’t be easy to find. Especially because these are partly the main questions in this area of science. Here is the list:
- Is it possible to find a connection between the outer (physical) and the inner (felt) states? In other words this is the question how consciouness and sensation arise.
- Is it possible to find a good, comprehensive definition for the term “intelligence”? (One which does not say intelligence is what an IQ test measures.) What are the key features of “intelligence”?
- Is consciousness for “intelligence” necessary, adequate or total independet of that.
- How does abstraction work? Is it possible to find a general abstraction algorithm?
- Are there general principles below emergence? Are there possibilities to understand emergence better?
- Is it possible to find universal intelligence tests which are independent of culture? Even better would it to find a test which is independet of our special senses and which is an alternative to the Turing test. Is it possible to create an abstraction test (or may be someone has done this before)?
About Strong AI
May 10th, 2009
Is strong AI possible? This is probably one of the most interesting questions of our age. I want to discuss this question in the following post, but first I should describe what is meant by “strong AI”: