OFF during a learned sequence 6. Hawkins' novel prediction is that certain cells are inhibited during a learned sequence. A class of cells in layers 2 and 3 should NOT fire during a learned sequence, the axons of these "exception cells" should fire only if a local prediction is failing. This prevents flooding the brain with the usual sensations, leaving only exceptions for post-processing. "Exception cells" should propagate unanticipated events 7. If an unusual event occurs (the learned sequence fails), the "exception cells" should fire, propagating up the cortical hierarchy to the hippocampus, the repository of new memories. "Aha! cells" should trigger predictive activity 8. Hawkins predicts a cascade of predictions, when recognition occurs, propagating down the cortical column (with each saccade of the eye over a learned scene, for example). Pyramidal cells should detect coincidences of synaptic activity on thin dendrites 9. Pyramidal cells should be capable of detecting coincident events on thin dendrites, even for a neuron with thousands of synapses. Hawkins posits a temporal window (presuming time-encoded firing) which is necessary for his theory to remain viable. Learned representations move down the cortical hierarchy, with training 10. Hawkins posits, for example, that if the inferotemporal (IT) level has learned a sequence, that eventually cells in V4 will also learn the sequence. "Name cells" exist in all regions of cortex 11. Hawkins predicts that "name cells" will be found in all regions of the cortex. See also Hierarchical temporal memory, a technology by Hawkins's startup Numenta Inc. to replicate the properties of the neocortex. Memory-prediction framework References External links Saulius Garalevicius' research page - Research papers and programs presenting experimental results with Bayesian models of the Memory-Prediction Framework Project Neocortex - An open source project for modeling Memory-Prediction Framework Reviews On Biological and Digital Intelligence A review by Ben Goertzel (7 Oct 2004) 2004 non-fiction books Science books Artificial intelligence publications Books about human intelligence