:Analogies for Sustainable Development/Neural networks as telephone wires

“ Neurons that fire together wire together. ” — Donald Hebb

Analogy Map

Neural networks	Phone networks
Neurons	Telephone trunks, houses
Synapses	Telephone wires
Electrical signals	Electrical signals
Neurons grow synapses themselves	Telephone wires are laid by humans

Quote Bank

Gopnik, Meltzoff & Kuhl (2000):

“Neurons do the equivalent of growing telephone wires that allow them to communicate with and influence one another.”

“the wiring is “activity dependent”: brain cells get connected by sending out electrical signals.“

“some instructions are laid down by the genes, like the basic telephone trunk lines laid between cities...But, beyond that, the wiring depends on activity. The basic trunk lines are laid down, but the specific connections from one house to another house require something more. As cells signal to one another, they lay down these more permanent connections. It’s as if, when you used your cell phone to call your neighbor often enough, a cable spontaneously grew between your houses. At first, cells exuberantly attempt to connect to as many other cells as they can. Like phone solicitors, they call everyone, hoping someone will answer and say yes. When another cell does answer, and answers often enough, a more permanent link gets laid down. Making these permanent connections is what brain cells live for.”

“When two neurons form a synapse, chemicals can flow between them and the connection is complete: the calls can go through. So synapses in the brain are the long-term connections that allow cells to talk to one another.”

Further Resources

Wikipedia: Hebbian theory

Analogies for Sustainable Development