James Michael Howard wrote:
> On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 19:44:26 -0400, Wolf Kirchmeir
> <wwolfkir at sympatico.ca> wrote:
>>>>ray scanlon wrote:
>>>>>>>David Longley writes:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>Don't you think sleight-of-hand and metaphysics deserves derision?
>>>>>>>>>Well, then let's drop all the sleight-of-hand and metaphysical
>>>prejudices and talk about the brain.
>>>>>>Since the neural net (interneurons) appeared in Cnidaria, what has
>>>changed? For one thing, the DNA has evolved to a point where it is
>>>able to construct a whole series of motor program generators, groups
>>>of neurons that when triggered produce a motor act. These generators
>>>can be modified by experience but they are not learned. We are born
>>>with them.
>>>>>>The location in the nervous system of some of these motor program
>>>generators can be more or less specified.
>>>>[...]
>>>>Are you claiming that we are born able to walk?
>>>>The development of the motor cortex is actually a good deal more
>>complicated than you appear to believe. Even in animals that can walk a
>>few minutes after birth. So I would prefer to say that we are born ready
>>to learn certain things. If that learning is impeded, we may never learn
>>to do the things we are "born with."
>>> Walking awaits myelinization of the pertinent nerves; this causes the
> delay.
