GRODEC, THE GRODEC ACTION POTENTIAL, AND GRODEC-BASED NEURAL NETWORKS

Abstract

Grodecs are abstract growth decay entities that are related to oscillators. The switching behaviour of grodecs has been analysed in detail and it is shown that grodecs can be used as the basis of both an unconventional type of neural net called a grocec stack machine, as well as conventional neural nets. A single grodec has the most of the switching properties of a short section of biological membrane, and can give rise to action potentials when properly set. A pair of grodecs can generate a much sharper action potential than can a single grodec, and this mechanism is very like that of a neuron with dual Na and K ion switching, so that a neuron membrane can be regarded conceptually as a Na grodec coupled to a K grodec. Grodecs can be coupled in positive (excitatory) or negative (inhibitory) manner to form logic circuits. Examples of such circuits are given, and show that grodecs can be the basis of conventional neural nets and sequential machines in general. Grodecs can also be coupled in an unconventional manner to form grodec stack machines. In such machines the action potentials sum in periods of growth and decay, so that a central machine pressure parameter exhibits time function behaviour similar to that of a fractal growth-decay time function, such as an En:m function. Although the manner of the summation is much simpler than in grodec stack machines, action potential summation does occur in nature, and causes the large voltages generated by electric fish.