Are all brain functions computable?

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Date

2000

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Sri Lanka Medical Association

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Whether the human brain is nothing but an advanced computer is a matter of inconclusive debate. This paper contributes to that debate. METHOD: Critical reasoning based on evidence provided by the history of a woman who complained of amnesia after each of two separate acts of attempted suicide. FINDINGS: A life-threatening tendency (suicidal impulses) may be countered by a functional imperfection (selective amnesia) or a feigned malfunction (malingering). INTERPRETATION: Some aspects of brain function may depend on operations that no hitherto invented computer can duplicate.

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Indexed in MEDLINE

Keywords

Amnesia-chemically induced, Amnesia-physiopathology, Brain-physiopathology, Drug Overdose, Pentobarbital-poisoning, Philosophy, Medical, Suicide, Attempted

Citation

The Ceylon Medical Journal. 2000; 45(4): pp.156-157

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