Abstract
THERE has been some debate whether the brain is determinate or probabilistic in its behaviour. As a contribution to this question, the following argument shows that from one point of view the determinate system is demonstrably of greater efficiency than the probabilistic. The physiologist may therefore expect to find that natural selection has made the brain as determinate as possible.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Ashby, W. Ross, “Design for a Brain”, 2nd ed., 64 (Chapman and Hall, London, 1960).
Ashby, W. Ross, “Introduction to Cybernetics”, 197, 208 (Chapman and Hall, London, 1956).
Sommerhoff, G., “Analytical Biology” (Oxford University Press, London, 1950).
Shannon, C. E., and Weaver, W., “The Mathematical Theory of Communication” (University of Illinois Press, Urbana, 1949).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
ASHBY, W. The Brain as Regulator. Nature 186, 413 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1038/186413a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/186413a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
