Neural networks Pavlov's dog Reflex Brain & Consciousness Associations Disgust Emotions & Free Will Satisfaction (quick start) Reward at work Job vs. pleasure Setting Goals Small steps Suicide bombers and compulsive gamblers Senses & satisfaction Relax & Zen Check list Examples ex. 1: training a kid ex. 2: muscles ex. 3: learn a language ex. 4: rock climbing ex. 5: stop smoking ex. 6: sport vs. war Genetic algorithm

neural networks inside a brain recognize patterns
Here's a mechanical model of a simple neural network. This one was tuned to recognize an "A"-shape pattern (OK, it's letter "A"). And no other letter will ever make the bell ring! Tuning (they say "training") consists in choosing the ball weights and V-grooves destinations
In a real eye neural network... ...instead of balls in grooves, electrochemical signals go from many sensory neurons to one shape recognition neuron. There is amplification or inhibition in a junction between two neurons (they say "synapse"). Mechanical model: amplification: a ball goes left inhibition: a ball goes right     Sum(Xj*Wi) is compared to a threshold (like a weight on the balance above) (For how to calculate Wi in a multilayer neural net, run a google search for "backpropagation algorithm")	Skip to [Satisfaction, quick start] section
recognize patterns, why? >> to trigger actions
Start with an existing hardwired association between pattern and action: food view is a known visual pattern for any dog. It is associated with an action: salivate.
Learning an unknown new pattern ("bell ring"). We need a new wiring here, an association of "bell ring" and "salivate" neural networks...
...a bit of training..
Done. The "bell ring" pattern has a new known meaning now: "salivate!" Are salivation and food-view distinct networks? btw, is appetite just one kind of emotion? and can an emotion be triggered by a bell?
some associations are innate : reflexes
The spinal cord is a sort of simple brain. An association between "hot!"-pattern-recognition and "release!"-action is hardwired in the spinal cord. I'm born with this association. My brain is bypassed, so that it can think more important issues while I am dealing with hot cooking ware. Another advantage: bypassing complicated circuitry makes reactions quicker.
bringing it altogether: some neural networks output are inputs for other networks
Memories are neural networks tuned to recognize shapes, smells, etc.. There are many associations between recognizable shapes (they say "patterns"). Ex: "24 December" (abstract pattern) and "tree" (visual pattern). Emotional patterns are associated with a release of brain hormones. Some of them help solve problems, others make synapse weights tuning (memorize new patterns). Emotions can't mix (?) : if I feel fear, I am fleeing away, not solving problems. Problem solving would be rambling between many associations in search of a networks string leading to a final pattern (named "result"). A string of events-in-time is a pattern as well. So it can be felt and memorized as any other pattern. That's how we feel lifetime? I can think about lifetime, by viewing memorized events-in-time patterns. An incoming pattern may come from the outside world, or from inside my body. Thus I perceive myself. Some memorized patterns are linked with emotions.	Saving brainwork and illusions. If I see a Cristmas tree, my brain may substitute the viewed tree by an earlier memorized one. Even if the two tree are slightly different. Doing so, data from my eyes will be lost. And data from a neural network "Christmas tree memory" will be connected to the eyes-view entry, as if it was coming from my eyes. Thus less neurons are needed for memory. The drawback is, I can't feel this substitution, it is a perfect illusion. Experienced people have difficulties to learn new information because of that substitution. They just can't feel that some new data from the outside world is missing! Update needed here: a self-conscious computer (picture). Access memory cells thru output/input only. How would such a computer distinguish his results from outside world contribution?
another association example: smell associated with an emotion
emotions: are they useful ?
Example of an emotion: disgust. It serves three purposes: 1. Avoid or vomit infected things 2. Communicate to other that the food is bad. 3. Learn to avoid infections in future (it all works automatically, while and of course, I can also be consciously aware of my disgust) In other words disgust serves my interests and community interests. To do so, my brain activates vomiting reflex and facial expression reflex. Both are innate. As in the dog's conditioned reflex example, I can associate things with disgust. The open mouth in a fly infested environment may be associated with disgust to avoid sleeping with an open mouth. Open mouth would be sort of "tagged" by disgust in order to be avoided unconsciously. A propos: ..thinking about facial expression of emotions: [clik-clik] wanna be a star? [clik-clik]
control of our thoughts is difficult and indirect
let's say I see a candle. Conscience of viewing the candle comes with a 0,5 seconds delay after the actual eyes-input of the candle pattern. Meanwhile a subconscious chain of "thoughts" (string of associated patterns) has already come to some final idea. Because of this delay, "free will" is only an illusion, while subconscious associations are yielding conscious logic. To make things more complicated, inputs may come either from outside world or from memory. Also, there's an emotional interference. Initial emotional state defines the pathway in a ramification of associated networks. Grey fear or anger serve to run or fight. (It is OK for animals, but is a bad option for men, usually a calm fighter wins.) Sunny mood helps to get new ideas and solve problems. The resulting idea may (?)probably(?) alter the initial emotion (i.e. happiness would increase itself, while depression on the contrary, will spiral down).
an overlooked emotion: satisfaction (a.k.a. happiness and inner peace)
Satisfaction purpose is straightforward: "what I did was OK, now I'll remember the way I did it, and do it over and over again". Normally satisfaction should occur naturally in the right course of action, at every successful step leading to optimal-for-life goals. Anything associated with satisfaction will be repeated again and again and with sensual pleasure. In other words, all Wi from the Sum(Xj*Wi) (see artificial neuron description above) will be set and thus the training will be stoped. We stop artificial neurons training after a stopping criterion is satisfied. In live neurons such a stop signal might well exist and we might feel it as satisfaction. Stress, irritation, frustration are reducing or even killing satisfaction. In the case the successful action will not be learned and one or several problems would become persistent. Also it is hard to feel satisfaction while slouching or frowning or superficial breating with one's diaphragm being tense. As you see at the picture above, satisfaction has little facial expression. This might be because (unlike fear or disgust) there is no need to communicate it to the herd. Satisfaction serves mostly for personal use. That's why satisfaction is generally perceived like an absence of any emotion. Here are ways to feel satisfaction: - hold your breath and breathe again - become thirsty and drink water (while drinking you feel pleasure, after drinking comes satisfaction) - become hungry and eat - take a problem (or a puzzle) and resolve it - use a cycle of tension-resolution (art&drama:catharsis/feeling-god, sex/orgasm/feeling-good..) - using substances :-( - etc. Meth users would describe an intense form of satisfaction: feel relaxed, anxiety fade, feel strong and brave, confident and happy. Usually reward is confused with pleasure. I would say, pleasure is what we sense in action (good taste on tongue, caress on skin...) and satisfaction is what we feel afterwards. Also, satisfaction (relaxed) is very different from exuberant joy (excitement). In oder words, it is common to think that if the reward system in our brain is activated, we feel sensual pleasure and joy and perhaps satisfaction (or "emotional relaxation", "peace", "sense of fulfillment" or "contentment"). Some publications made me speculate that joy and satisfaction correspond to two distinct systems. Pleasure would be just a perception, a sense (while certainly emotionally colored). Joy and pleasure do eclipse a more subtle satisfaction, which would be the true reward system in a training/learning prospective. Some addictive substances do hijack both pleasure and satisfaction systems. I guess, addictions are due only to the satisfaction system activation. Isn't it reasonable: even if some experiences were enjoyable, keep searching new ways until full satisfaction, and only then retain what you'd found?
satisfaction: reward at work
1) pleasure : lets the nervous system know where to lead you; 2) satisfaction : creates this pleasant lead;	btw: Illusion: the cigarette is a special and unique sort of pleasure. Reality: a cigarette is an artificial trigger for Satisfaction. And Satisfaction induces Pleasure (of smoking again and again). Different other substances may lead to Satisfaction. Can a person use emotional memories instead of outside triggers? Other people (artists, bosses..) do manipulate our emotions. Can one do it by himself?
using satisfaction : job vs. pleasure
Danger: Suppose some job trouble yields negative emotions. Chemical signals are broadcasted to the entire nervous system: "wrong way, we need some correction". Meanwhile the body was working fine, controlled by unconscious commands essential for health. These valid commands are now being "corrected"(i.e. misguided) by the new chemical signals. That's why stress leads to poor health. To help emotional memory, try sort of prana-yoga built-in triggers: inspiration-pleasure(skin-and-body sensed), expiration-satisfaction.
job & life: setting Goals
Problem: a natural Wild Beast motivation to get Powerful and to Procreate...
Half human, half beast, any Mother would die or kill for her baby,.. most Men would fight for supremacy in Business or Politics, the ultimate "king of the hill" games in modern world. We're told to behave and to be nice, we'd like to, but isn't there a contradiction with Making Real Big Money? Nice guy moneymaking goal, motivation and ability are weakened by this moral dilemma.
...leads to natural State, natural law, win-loose games, to all this fights for supremacy and Red Ocean competition hindering Industrial Productivity. Overpopulation and scarce resources lead to even more fierce fights. "Brainless" Ants would do better. (and with all that BigBosses, Bullies, Eminences Grises, Alpha-, Beta- and Gamma-males, ladies better stay home...)
Solution: a win-win Industry, some contractual law, and a motivation to get rich the Human way...
Addiction to Puzzles "how to make some Win-Win Money"   Rule of Law is needed to enforce Win-Win contracts
Solving puzzles is fun. Solving puzzles is addictive thru satisfaction. In solving a Special Puzzle "how to make some Win-Win Money" the money itself is an evidence of success and a lucky byproduct. The sum of money gained is of no importance, what counts is the addiction to this specific puzzle, pleasure and satisfaction from solving the puzzle. The solution can be win-win or win-loose. Win-Win seems to be the best strategy. One may start a small-sum money puzzle (easy?), and progressively make it harder. Win-Win seems important: try to get 10 bucks yourself, while all the participants get the additional 10 bucks too. This is my speculation, we need some practical evidence here! Money brings a feeling of importance, satisfies a desire to be great, makes you the-king-of-the-hill. This is Not an ideal motivation, it is based on a wild male instinct, leads into some cheating and confrontation in business, and success rate is low. Many aim the hilltop, few get there. As a happiness tool, money pays for addictions and activities we like: playtime, drink, hobbies, gambling, sex, drug, curiosity satisfaction, cruises, etc.. Love to spend money seems a weak motivation to make lots of it, since many love it, but only a few succeed? Survival tool: money helps getting water, food, shelter, safety and education for kids, etc. This money is often gained from some routine job or cheating (depends of one's ethics). Motivation for more Survival Money vanishes after earning relatively little. Not a good motivation to get extra rich. Besides while getting paid by a boss, you don't develop your ability to solve the Money Puzzle. (update needed here, pic(s): Got rich,... what's next? Saving people in distress is an instinct, can be used as a meaningful goal to money-puzzle solving. It would be a better strategy than competition for power and status. (update needed here, pic(s): (alpha->power, gamma->survival, curious/beta->self-actualization? (social-layer/castes: Alpha/Gamma/fight, Beta/apart/dodge-threat, (alpha/gamma-alltime-in-problems -> s.p.i.n./motivation (update needed here: Force workers to work Vs. Lure/Trick them into work, it's Capitalism as an economic and social system Vs Feudalism. Gaining surplus value is a faire prize for Motivating workers?
...using some Skills
Sensitive for gathering initial data First Hand (like a Sensor type person, womanizer, mechanic, athlete, etc.) Intuitive intelligence for data processing (Vision and Creative thinking); Thinker to make choices between possibilities (Critical thinking, Risk assessment); Feeler for People skills and Win-Win choices;
(Intuitive feeling of probabilities, vision, anticipation are iportant. Card games and game theory are all about probabilities. If I put small black or white balls in a bag, and pull them out one after another, and try to guess the color of every next ball... OK, a better than 50% guess is impossible, although will it reinforce the habit of relying on past experience (do we call it intuition?);
emotional checkup: are my steps small enough
A Goal as a reference point is set up from smart thinking and gathering information. Then it is wise to setup milestones (local goals). With a little willpower and lots of satisfaction from achieving milestones, we convert milestones into wants, especially is the goal is really a wise one. For complicated long-term goals: planning & learning the milestones backwards seems an interesting (Caren Pryor's) idea.
right emotions, evil stupid goals : going compulsive and addictive
More examples of compulsive, addictive or normal behavior are easily explained using the satisfaction paradigm. Try these: - Stress from fear to be caught + satisfaction from a successful shoplift => kleptomaniac; - Extreme sport + satisfaction of escaping danger => adrenaline junky; - Tense while searching a solution + satisfaction and relaxation at solution finding => puzzle lover; - Pain + satisfaction after an orgasm (not pleasure!) -> sado/maso; - Intercourse without ejaculation = pleasure without satisfaction => he needs Viagra; - Adrenaline rush at a job stress -> blood pressure raising + satisfaction from a smoke or a meal, while blood pressure hasn't dropped yet => hypertension; - etc... After a pathway ended with satisfaction, the brain pushes the body to that path again. Thus, any goal or action associated with the feeling of satisfaction (a.k.a. "emotional relaxation") will be reached independently of our will, over and over again. The associated pathway may even be imaginary (it'll be "meditation"). Our choices in life and our body function are driven by this powerful mechanism. While fighting suicide bombers or serial killers, correcting myopia and addictions, teaching music or math's, we should know how to use satisfaction. 1) satisfaction is not just an absence of emotions, but is a special emotion itself. 2) our neural system somehow manages to lead us to a previously "tagged" (or associated) with satisfaction state or place or action, etc.
you train only what you sense
I need equal amounts of satisfaction and perception of what I am doing. If my lesson is too long, satisfaction decreases, or I begin exercising automatically. Such lesson wouldn't do any good. Important Update needed here: approaching your limit, you tend to focus on your weakness. Shifting your attention from the weakness (thus your limit) is difficult. (? Zen story walking across a precipice, blind man). Focusing on multiple targets to saturate your mind (technique from Natalie M.)
you can feel and sense only if you relax
Try to lift a heavy weight and doing so calculate 37 x 9 = ..., or sing, or remember your favorite meal taste,... Impossible. You have to relax in order to better use your brain.
using zen diaphragm breathing to relax
Update needed here. = Relaxed muscles are shown in green, flexed ones in red. = Diaphragm muscles are flexed to breathe in. = A forced exhalation (right) may leave residual contraction of the diaphragm due to some remaining stress. = Breathing out with a most relaxed diaphragm (left) should lead to the whole system relaxation.
check list: [_] relax muscles and void mind [_] find and sense the useful skill or thought [_] feel a satisfaction tag to learn it keywords: void mind ..... purposeful ; awareness ..... satisfaction (frustration-free ; looser-free) ..... 10 minutes every day
ex. 1: training a kid (missing rewards and obscure goals)
I. A dolphin is solving a "jump through hoops" problem and gets his intrinsic reward from the "tension->relief/solution" cycle. Just as we would say: "it was tough, but I did it!" The little fish is just a message meaning "OK, you found the solution!" II. A kid is given no problem, so where the intrinsic.reward/satisfaction would come from?	The "fish" is not a reward (i.e. actual source of satisfaction), it is just a message meaning "the task at hand was solved OK", while the satisfaction itself would result from the cycle "task/problem/tension => task.done/resoltion/satisfaction" (some call it "intrinsic satisfaction); They say: to manipulate you need to make the trainee feel a "freedom of choice". I guess the point here is "choice", not freedom. Your trainee is choosing (to do or not to do), is getting tense, wondering what the right choice is.. and finally the trainee relaxes: "Yes! The choice is done!" Don't push the trainee into an obvious choice. Make it an hesitating choice. Don't give him the answer of a problem, or you'd spoil the satisfaction/pleasure. Make him decide, don't decide for the trainee. A "very attractive offer" is less attractive in the long run, because it enforces a choice thus canceling the "tension->resolution" satisfactory reward. A Human Adult is overloaded with problems induced by his oversized desires (hello Mr Gautama Buddha) and by competition. Problems are so painful that people become stressed. Relief from problems is the too obvious action in this case. As in sales: find a problem and offer a relief/solution... May be offering a hint is even better, because the customer would get multiple rewards: 1) escape from stress, 2) get a tangible benefit, became happy from finding "himself" the solution.
It made me think of an update to the Porter - Lawler model:
and a comment to David McClelland's experiments on achievements and success:
1) challenging & teasing throw distance = addicted to process = winner 2) too easy or 3) unrealistic distance = boring or frustrated/disgusted = willpower fails = looser
An alt way : doing it excellent on an easy target.
school system : (mis)using kids as a tool
Satisfaction of being the best: it is impossible to shine-out without all that average students as a background. A lesson is not a competition, but a training for one. Rewarding a few A-grade students wouldn't work without the average and thus unrewarded majority. Do they use our kids as an educational tool for the sake of a few A-students? OK, they can keep grades undisclosed... But the difficulty of an assignment is tuned up on/according-to class statistics. Thus only a few students can get an A-grade-reward. It should be tuned to fit every student individually, but this would be too expensive. Can one profit from the system? Easy: just do some homework in advance and be the straight-A kid. Update needed here: Stick based Feudal and former communist Eastern bloc system is even worse. Soviets "wanted" (did them?) people to work for the satisfaction of achievements, they failed to set it up and finally they resorted to brute force.
ex. 2: muscles
ex. 3: learning a foreign language
This successful experience is based on Assimil (TM) method. I added some DVD. Blockbuster = unforgettable (emotions high). ("XZZ-Language-Manual" = shoestring budget, boring, austere). 1 minute film dialogue = 30 min lesson. First: print caption translation and read one-lesson-long of those.
Turn captions on. Listen and Understand the film. (Use a headset!!!). You may have to listen the same phrase up to 5 times before you hear distinct words (or just skip indistinct ones).
This one is hard! Read a short phrase. Repeat it less than 2 seconds after reading it. (Make phrases a little longer only after 30 or 40 lessons). Be Zen: just do it, don't think grammar or translation. Tip: Use a voice recorder to control your pronunciation. DO & DONTs Do not try to recall the sentence you are repeating. If it's not coming easy, try a shorter sentence and never make any pause after reading it. 15 minutes every day is fine. 4 hours once a week is bad. Be confident. First 40 lessons the results will stall, than there will be a breakthrough. Childish faith : real hero learn languages. This idea will cheer you up.
ex. 4: rock climbing
Sense every single skill you train and feel a rewarding satisfaction at every step.
ex. 5: quit smoking
Remaining inner tensions in one's mind may result from Stupid Goals/Lifestyle (or excessive expectations while reaching Smart Goals). Draining these worries is achieved thru smoking (as well as thru overeating, hobbies, drinking, freediving, diaphragm breathing, etc.) a) cigarette attractiveness from reducing the craving for inner peace overcomes avoidance of smoke; b) reduce worries thru some alternative way, and cigarette repulsiveness will prevail;
comment on Allen Carr's way 1) understand Goal logic: nicotine is a trap it works like this: # getting tense... need to relax... need a smoke # if nicotine starvation -> tense again -> more smoke needed 2) reach the goal thru Satisfaction: a) escape avoiding a single "just one smoke" -> b) bravo! satisfaction (the stronger is the smoke addiction, the stronger is the escape satisfaction, but it works only if cigarette is considered to be an insidious trap) (i.e. satisfaction is securing the nicotine avoidance habit).
ex. 6: willpower and competition misunderstood
Competition. A hostile "community" may link together satisfaction and fight. This may lead to a lifetime goal "I'll show them all!". In business it means preferences for ego over efficiency. (btw: a "no pain, no gain" approach may accidentally link pain to satisfaction ("I love pain" instead of "I love gain").
...competition and war
Game and sport : learning & training (personal interest) Competition : innate rules are protecting the opponents' life - best fit leads the heard (common interest) - best fit breed (genetic algorithm, benefit of the species) If given a method to push an effort to a life treating edge (normal for life-or-death situation), would it be reasonable to use it in a sport competition? Animal World War : - survival, only the result counts, overkill is OK, life is more important than possible injuries. Humans are top predators, so we are left alone to compete with each other. Taking a worst-case (war): what do we do with a "sporting desire" of winning this deadly "game" mostly for satisfaction?
all OK now, why changing? >> local optimum and Genetic algorithm Genetic algorithm has nothing to do with brain structure. I mention it here because it is a goal choosing and a problem solving strategy. It shows the true role of competition: not ego feeding, but solutions testing. Some say it is the Basic Law of Creation (God?), since it might be applied to an initial multitude of laws and the best remaining law would be the GA itself. Imagine a diamond hidden in a dark cave, at the highest point on the ceiling. Assume you have a long stick to probe height in the dark. What would be the best strategy?
1. going through enumeration of all possibilities: 100% sure but slow
2. gradient search : after a quick progress you got trapped in a local optimum before finding the diamond (global optimum)
1 + 2. genetic algorithm combines random possibilities and gradient descend. It's the quickest way to reach your goal.       This cave case is a 1-D optimization with one optimization parameter: ceiling height. Multi-dimensional optimization is quick and easy with Genetic Algorithm. If confronted with controversial criteria, the GA would give a best possible balance. Personality: balance between random curiosity and goal-seeking determination. Brainstorming: initial populations of ideas, chop them and mix randomly, challenge results and keep the best, repeat again. Silicon Valley: balance between innovation & entrepreneurship (combining "R&D center" & "market place" genes).
Thanks to myself K.Pryor @ clickertraining.com Ivan Pavlov Emile Coue Tasha @ DOL Paul Getty Konstantin Stanislavski Alphonse Cherel @ Assimil S.Dolenko @ neuroproject.ru Helene Brun-Pichet @ Lere Mirzakarim @ norbekov.com Norbert Wiener David Metzler @ iastate.edu Frederick Perls @ Gestalt George Polya @ stanford.edu Susan Greenfield @ rigb.org Martin Fridson @ billionaires D.J. O'Leary @ apu.ac.uk John Watson @ Behaviorism Lyman Porter @ uci.edu Ed Lawler @ usc.edu Konrad Lorenz Allen Carr @ stop smoking David McClelland R.Fisher & W.Ury @ pon.harvard.edu Gregory Berns @ emory.edu R.-V.Joule & J.-L.Beauvois @ Manipulation (Fr) Neil Rackham @ SPIN Natalie Molchanova @ freediving D. S. Modha & R. Singh @ IBM Scott P. Stevens @ psu.edu Kim Ch. & Mauborgne R. @ Blue ocean INSEAD Regards, Andy :-)

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