3 ms·
Whisker simulation gives insight into mammals’ sense of touch
- ddingus 6y agoI think this is cool. We can model, infer and see what is predictive without necessarily having direct knowledge of the system we seek to understand better. Similar ideas can be used to gain advantage, though of an unknown quality, until validated over time and through increasingly robust scenarios predicted and confirmed against the unknown authority. That S shape seems like it can communicate a lot, and do so in vectors, not just discrete impressions. A parallel type of thing would be the shape of our ear and how it acts as a passive filter, giving us better spatial awareness of sound. These kind of systems are a very interesting combination of simple, mechanical exploitation of nature, physics coupled with awareness, neurons able to take experience and render perception far beyond what one might expect at first glance. Rando thought: Say someone had an implant of sorts. People put magnets in their bodies, for example. So, say one managed to implant a whisker type thing. Perhaps our minds would consider that part of us, and over time and experience develop a sense very similar to what the animals have. Maybe people with a lot of facial hair have this to some degree and it is latent, lightly used in daily life.