Constraint Based Architecture for Artificial Consciousness

Jerry Fodor, published a book called The Mind Doesn't Work That Way! in around 2000 or thereabouts in which he published some discussion on the scope and limitations of Computational Psychology. In it he suggested that Neural Network architectures had certain constraints that meant that it was difficult to store and retrieve discrete memories using them.

Working from these constraints, creates a need for architectural conventinos that would not be required in a computer or analog electronic circuit. As such, it puts a particular stress on the nature of the tissue that makes up the brain, and how it is organized. Further it suggests that how the tissue is organized, might be particularly important to understanding how the brain works, and how it evolved.

My work suggests that the Allocortical (Three Layer) Cortex Tissue acts as an implicit memory, and that in order to address that tissue so that discrete memories can be accessed, requires Isocortical Tissues, such as the 6 layer tissues commonly found in the neo-cortex, 5 layer agranular tissue such as is found in certain other areas of the neo-cortex, and even 9 layer tissues such as found in the Occipital Cortex.

Current Information Theory, has suggested that there are really only two types of memory, Place Code memory, which is suitable for addressing discrete memories, and Content Addressable Memory, which is accessed by content. If this is true, then implicit memory must be a form of Content Addresable Memory, because it does not lend itself to addressing discrete memories, unless accessed by at least two more layers of neurons. (The difference between Allocortical and Agranular cortex tissues.)

Interpreting the Micro-Architecture of brain tissues, becomes more important when we realize that constraints such as these, will affect the psychology, by limiting the functions that cortex tissues can achieve. It suggests that Allocortical Tissues are precursors to Isocortical Tissues, and that animals with primarily allocortical memories are incapable of accessing discrete memories. It also calls into question the assumption that consciousness is a universal phenomena, and that all animals are conscious, since the ability to address discrete memories is considered highly important in perception.