Arlington Location

(703) 379-6300

Leesburg Location

(571) 233-0473

Man and Machine

Man and Machine

Is a computer like a human brain or is a human brain like a computer? When machines allow us to extend our abilities, are we enhancing our humanness or becoming more machine-like? What are the meaningful distinctions between humans and machines and how do these impact our daily pursuits of health, well-being, and happiness?

One primary practical distinction is that humans initiate spontaneous, unique, non-predetermined actions and machines do not. Advanced machines such as military early warning systems may initiate spontaneous activities, but all of these are predetermined and predefined to a greater or lesser degree. And for any machine responses that are not previously designated and programmed as routine, human interaction is required for initiation of the suggested action.

Generally, even the "smartest" machine only has access to a built-in suite of responses. Noted exceptions include computer programs based on simple rules which emulate living systems. The "cellular automata" generated by these programs demonstrate spontaneous emergent behaviors not predictable from the simple rules themselves. The "artificial life" thus observed is exceedingly complex and can even provide optimal solutions to deep scientific problems posed to the system by investigators.

Cellular automata are examples of complex systems, defined as systems which are critically sensitive to small changes in initial conditions. Complex systems achieved fame in Michael Crichton's novel (and the subsequent Stephen Spielberg film), "Jurassic Park". In the book, the paleobotanist Dr. Ian Malcolm uses the weather as an example of the nature of complex systems. In a scene which has achieved iconic status, Malcolm relates how a butterfly flapping its wings in the Amazon rain forest can cause a tornado in the American Midwest. Small changes in a complex system's initial state can lead to substantial unpredictable results in the system as a whole.

The human nervous system is such a complex, dynamic system.1,2,3 Small changes in the nervous system's initial state can result in dramatic outcomes. For example, a spinal misalignment (resulting from an innocuous low back muscle strain) can irritate a spinal nerve (a small change in initial conditions) which can lead to chronic indigestion, allergies, migraine headaches, or even high blood pressure down the road.

Most machines are not complex in this way, but they do require regular maintenance and care. As human beings, we are complex systems by our very nature and the importance of regular maintenance and care is that much greater. A healthy spine and optimally functioning nerve system go very far toward ensuring the health of our body-as-machine and our associated happiness and well-being.

1Bourjaily MA, Miller P: Synaptic plasticity and connectivity requirements to produce stimulus-pair specific responses in recurrent networks of spiking neurons. PLoS Comput Biol 7(2):e1001091, 2011 [Epub February 24, 2011]
2Rigotti M, et al: Internal representation of task rules by recurrent dynamics: the importance of the diversity of neural responses. Front Comput Neurosci 4:24, 2010
3Power JD, et al: The development of human functional brain networks. Neuron 67(5):735-748, 2010

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Arlington Location

Monday

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

3:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Tuesday

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Wednesday

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

3:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Thursday

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Friday

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

3:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Saturday

Closed

Sunday

Closed

Leesburg Location

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

By appointment only

2:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Wednesday

Closed

Thursday

By appointment only

2:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Friday

Closed

Saturday

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Sunday

Closed

Arlington Location

Monday
9:00 am - 1:00 pm 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Tuesday
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Wednesday
9:00 am - 1:00 pm 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Thursday
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Friday
9:00 am - 1:00 pm 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed

Leesburg Location

Monday
Closed
Tuesday
By appointment only 2:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
By appointment only 2:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Friday
Closed
Saturday
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Sunday
Closed

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