Artificial Consciousness/Neural Correlates/Neural Models/HH Neuron
The HH Neuron (Neural Network Model)
[edit | edit source]Hodgkins and Huxley defined the basic Spiking Neuron Model in 1952 when they determined that it was the interaction between the Potassium current and the Sodium Current, that determined the voltage characteristics of the Giant Squid Ason. From their pioneering work, came the more comprehensive ion channel definition that makes up our current model of the Neuron. At that time, ion channels were just one of a number of possible interpretations and their work thinned down the population somewhat by elimination of some of the possibilities.
The primary difference between the HH neuron and the Hebbian Neuron, is the second order or Spiking function of the neuron. This can be expressed simply by integrating the two separate ion currents and multiplying them together before applying the adjustment for logrythmic function, and subtracting the threshold.
That it took until 1952 to isolate the formula for Axon membrane function should not be surprising, because the nature of the axon membrane is such that the technology to stabilize the currents needed to be developed, before they could be adequately measured, this required the invention of the Space clamp and voltage clamp mechanisms, and was slowed down by the involvement of scientists in the second world war.
That scientists are now wondering if they need the spiking behavior to properly model the processing functions of the neurons, simply means that we have moved on from the necessity of adequately mapping the electrical characteristics of the membrane, in order to understand what is going on in the neuron. Now that we have modelled it, we can consider it's validity as a model of neural function, out of a position of knowledge rather than ignorance. In the end we might not need a spiking neuron to simulate the brain, but we have one if we need it.