How are Nervous Structures Organized

In the view of cybernetics the brain is an appropriately structured nervous net for the processing of signals; understanding the brain is identical with knowing the connection pattern and its function. The corresponding view in computer science identifies artificial intelligence with appropriate programs, executed on the computer. Computer chess, artificial speech production and pattern recognition testify to the success of the approach. In both cases, brain and computer, the process of organization responsible for the genesis of connection pattern or program is considered as an independent issue. It is in the style of cybernetics to assume that the genome of the individual contains a blueprint for the wiring of its nervous system, and that during ontogenesis this information is simply translated from one form into another. Thus, phylogeny can freely program nervous connectivity to its requirements.