--- abstract: 'It is argued that the key to understanding the brain is to view it as a device making extensive use of methodologies developed in computer programming, the idea of compiling source code written in a high-level language providing a mechanism for conceptually linking the two domains. Following the argument through, one arrives at a clarification of what the nervous system in its complexity is all about; it consists of a collection of devices for implementing specific kinds of competence, in ways in principle indicated in detail by application of the object-oriented programming paradigm to the various kinds of processes featuring in cognitive life. ' altloc: - http://www.tcm.phy.cam.ac.uk/~bdj10/papers/explaining_NS.html chapter: ~ commentary: ~ commref: ~ confdates: ~ conference: ~ confloc: ~ contact_email: ~ creators_id: [] creators_name: - family: Josephson given: Brian D. honourific: '' lineage: '' date: 2002-12 date_type: published datestamp: 2002-12-04 department: ~ dir: disk0/00/00/14/56 edit_lock_since: ~ edit_lock_until: ~ edit_lock_user: ~ editors_id: [] editors_name: [] eprint_status: archive eprintid: 1456 fileinfo: /style/images/fileicons/text_html.png;/1456/1/Explaining_NS.html full_text_status: public importid: ~ institution: ~ isbn: ~ ispublished: ~ issn: ~ item_issues_comment: [] item_issues_count: 0 item_issues_description: [] item_issues_id: [] item_issues_reported_by: [] item_issues_resolved_by: [] item_issues_status: [] item_issues_timestamp: [] item_issues_type: [] keywords: 'Brain modelling, computation, development, object-oriented programming, high-level languages, compilation process, nativism, constructivism' lastmod: 2011-03-11 08:54:37 latitude: ~ longitude: ~ metadata_visibility: show note: 'This is a very preliminary draft and comments on presentation and validity, suggestions of further illustrations of the model, etc., are invited (email to: bdj10@cam.ac.uk).' number: ~ pagerange: ~ pubdom: FALSE publication: ~ publisher: ~ refereed: FALSE referencetext: | ARBIB, Michael, The Mirror System, in Imitation and the Evolution of Language, in Imitation in Animals and Artifacts, Nehaniv, C. and Dautenhahn, K. (2000). JAVA tutorial, The, http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/java/concepts/ KARMILOFF-SMITH, Annette, Beyond Modularity: a Developmental Perspective on Cognitive Science, MIT (1992). MINSKY, Marvin, The Society of Mind, Heinemann (1987). QUARTZ, Steven R. and Terrence J. SEJNOWSKI, The neural basis of cognitive development: A constructivist manifesto, Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 20(4) 537-596 (1997). relation_type: [] relation_uri: [] reportno: ~ rev_number: 8 series: ~ source: ~ status_changed: 2007-09-12 16:37:53 subjects: - neuro-mod - comp-sci-neural-nets - comp-sci-art-intel succeeds: ~ suggestions: ~ sword_depositor: ~ sword_slug: ~ thesistype: ~ title: Explaining the nervous system in terms of computer programming and the object-class abstraction type: preprint userid: 196 volume: ~