Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!nanotech From: jgsmith@bcm.tmc.edu (James G. Smith) Newsgroups: sci.nanotech Subject: Re: Is uploading suicide? Message-ID: Date: 12 Jan 91 17:00:35 GMT Sender: nanotech@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 20 Approved: nanotech@aramis.rutgers.edu disclaimer:I'm an immunologist, not a neurologist, so there's probably just enough fact in the following to confuse everyone. Creating a perfect neuronal map of a person's brain on a cellular scale (this neuron connects to these neurons, etc.) will not be sufficient to duplicate the personality represented by that brain. Different neurons use different molecules to transmit signals. As far as I know, one neuron may be connected to 10 others, but only 3 of those others may be listening. Also, the degree of 'listening' depends on the number of receptors for the neurotransmitter (i.e. some may be listening more closely than others). Also, personality may be affected by hormones. (Remember PMS?) In order to duplicate a brain, you will have to know the composition down to the molecular level. I find it unlikely we will be able to do that until the very final stages of nanotechnology. *