Year: 2018
Type: preprint
Abstract: We relate the concepts used in decentralized ledger technology to studies of episodic memory in the mammalian brain. Specifically, we introduce the standard concepts of linked list, hash functions, and sharding, from computer science. We argue that these concepts may be more relevant to studies of the neural mechanisms of memory than has been previously appreciated. In turn, we also highlight that certain phenomena studied in the brain, namely metacognition, reality monitoring, and how perceptual conscious experiences come about, may inspire development in blockchain technology too, specifically regarding probabilistic consensus protocols.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Authors: Cho, Seong Hah, Cushing, Cody A, Patel, Kunal, Kothari, Alok, Lan, Rongjian, Michel, Matthias, Cherkaoui, Mouslim, Lau, Hakwan
Institution: University of Hong Kong
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2900278458