Since we have already concluded that brain is behavior, we need to understand how the brain works to generate behaviors. It is worth spending so much time understanding potentials because they are the source of our behavior. I find it intriguing that we know so much on such a very small scale. We can better understand behavior if we study such small details.

Even by knowing about these small boxes, there still seems to be a lot that we do not know, or that we have not yet touched upon in class. One neuron needs input from another neuron to have an output. And for a particular sensational input, there needs to be thousands of intermediate inputs and outputs for a sensational output to result. How can there be so much order, yet at the same so much variability to the nervous system? Changing permeablities.... thunder and lightning.... there is so much precision. I think that it was you who said that the internet is like a complex brain. But I am not so sure that anything can be more complex than the brain. Nothing artificial at least. It would be amazing if we could create something that has the ability to learn for itself over time. And display autonomy as well. Only by understanding every little piece of the brain, every little box, can we eventually lead to a better understanding of behavior. Who knows, maybe then we can create behaviors in other ways than we are used to...

Indeed, there is a LOT we don't yet know/understand. Which is to say that we need to know (as you say) not only how the smallest boxes work but how they are interconnected and talk to one another. "Order AND variability ..." An interesting (and quite general) problem (evolution, the immune system, society?). Am not sure best approach is "understanding every little piece of the brain". Are too many, and run into not seeing forest for trees problem? But yes, maybe create (or at least influence) behaviors in new ways. PG