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Feldman, J.A., Ballard, D. H. (1982). Connectionist Models and Their Properties. Cognitive Science 6.

Figure 2. Two Koch Island curve L-system fractals with one (left) and four iterative steps. More iterative steps result in more richness.

Intelligence can be defined as a measure of context size; how large amount of various stimuli we take into an account and process prior an action emerges. In other words, it is about how many mental plates we manage to juggle in the air concurrently.

Like is the case with an L-system fractal and other iterative processes, simple rules generate complex behaviour. Feedback mechanism is important for achieving complexity and the richness of the form, for raising rich conceptual thinking (e.g. language). Electromagnetic waves feeding and changing each other creates thought. As a simplified example, the brain of an ant utilizes less iterative steps than the brain of a human being.

Learning begins with a process in which we let more and more waves travel into our brains. According to my simplified view, each time we hear, taste, see or touch something, or get an internal stimulus from tuning sense, we get potential material (i.e. waves) for learning to occur. Forgetting occurs when new waves obscure the old ones, caused by the limited brain memory capacity or other electromagnetic wave behaviour phenomena. In addition to the process of forgetting, wave behaviour phenomena also leads to creativity; new waves (information) emerge caused by the phenomena.

Put simply and on a very basic level, learning manifests itself as an ability to respond with a reaction to a stimulus. We have learnt that red light on a road advises us to stop. Our whole life is a continuing series of similar infinitesimally small steps of stimulus-reaction. Impulses from our senses, tuning sense included, create a reaction in us. Our mind factors in all the impulses it is receiving, and calculates a result. In a way, it is like a mirroring water surface. The ripples interferencing each other on the water represent our past stimuli and experiences. They change how the surface refracts and mirrors its surrounding scenery. The ripples (waves streaming on our brains = past stimuli) alter the current result (mirrored image = reaction).

Thought process is not a chemical one per se. It can be altered, improved and distracted by chemical substances which change the electromagnetic properties of the brain, the behaviour of the tuning sense and other senses, and the regeneration and growth of brain cells. Furthermore, some senses’ operation is based on chemical reactions. In the end however, each sense converts stimulus into a general, unified, common type for processing – into electromagnetic waves.

The differences in an ability to think and act rise from physical differences; the type of brain cells, nerves and the connections to the senses are differently distributed and unique.

The concept that we are listening to our inner radio broadcasts raises a question: which part of us is turning the knob of the tuning sense? The way I see it, the knob is controlled by a feedback mechanism inherit in our brains. Tuning sense is controlled by the sum of the internal electromagnetic state of a portion of the brain. The role of thalamus is central in sensory and other operations; it can be presented that thalamus is the tuning sense, receiving input from the senses and feedback input from the cerebral cortex. 

Brain is a parallel, layered processing unit. There is one tuning sense for thought process and also several other dedicated for other bodily functions. Figuratively speaking, we cannot “hear” the signal from all the tuning senses; they are not part of our consciousness directly.

Our eyes convert the photons to changing electrical current. Our ears translate the changes in air pressure to changing electrical current. Changing electrical current creates electromagnetic fields. Each sense transmits using a different frequency range which guarantees that the signals do not mix with each other – normally.

The new sense – tuning sense – is the trimmer of our brainwaves. It selects what frequency we’re tuned to: what are our thoughts, what part of the multiple stimuli from our senses and neuronal activity we perceive.

Tuning sense resembles the tuning knob of a radio, which is actually a variable capacitor. When we sleep, the tuning knob turns randomly from left to right, figuratively speaking. It picks up all kinds of signals mixing them freely and channeling visions to visual cortex.

Figure 1. Crystal set radio.

A simple form of an electrical radio, so-called crystal set, consists of a diode, a capacitor and a coil as an antenna. The organically developed counterparts for those components are the basic building blocks of organic brains, also. I suggest that a neuron is a microscopic radio.

Generally, an antenna acts simultaneously as a receiver and a sender, likewise, a neuron is also a transceiver. Thus brain functions as billions of microscopic radio transceivers. They broadcast and re-broadcast the programme they are receiving from the senses and other neurons. On a functional level, radio transceiver is an equivalent circuit for a neuron. Dendrites take the role of a fractal antenna and are thus capable of receiving and radiating a large range of frequencies.