Human Memory

[gmacrider]

Keep in mind I'm a complete non-scientist.

 

According to Carl Sagan in his book "Cosmos" (from 1980 or so) a single human cell contains about 5 billion bits of genetic information. I'll simplify it a bit and call it 5 Gigabits (not Gigabytes!).

 

He also says our brains have about 100 trillion neural connections, which would translate into about 100 Terabits of memory.

 

So, 5Gb of genetic information and 100 Tb of human RAM. Being a computer geek, I can get my head around those numbers.

 

But are they accurate numbers? I'm most curious to see if any of you have opinions on that. Thanks.

 

(my apologies if this has been discussed before...I'm new to the board)

[hyebeh]

well, genetic information is hard coded so you couldn't use as "memory" per se. Furthermore, the brains neurons serve different purposes such as data integration and maintainance of homeostasis not to mention cognitive thinking. Thus, you brain isn't as powerful a supercomputer as you are thinking it to be. (It's already pretty busy with other stuff).

 

PS: The rumor that only 15% of the human brain is used is completely ridiculous. Evolution would never support the development of such a large and costly organ if it served no purpose.

[reverse]

Yea I know what you mean about the seemingly fantastic amounts of data stored in the human brain.

 

It sure seems like a big number to fit inside a small enclosure.

 

And what does it all do.

 

I figure it was mostly set up to get the better of the environment, enabling us to get food and stop being destroyed and thus reproduce.

 

In order to do this we must be able to predict all sorts of things about the physical world, and worse still be able to predict the behaviour of other complex creatures like ourselves.

 

It’s a big ask, so I guess complexity is to be expected.