Cybersleep? (Letters).As I recall, neural networks neural network or neural computing, computer architecture modeled upon the human brain's interconnected system of neurons. Neural networks imitate the brain's ability to sort out patterns and learn from trial and error, discerning and extracting also require, from time to time, periods of very low input in order to maintain their learning efficiencies ("Sleepy Heads: Low fuel may drive brain's need to sleep," SN: 7/20/02, p. 38). Neural-network researchers call these periods sleep, yet these networks obviously don't require glycogen glycogen (glī`kəjən), starchlike polysaccharide (see carbohydrate) that is found in the liver and muscles of humans and the higher animals and in the cells of the lower animals. to function. Thus, it always seemed to me that sleep is probably more of a requirement of the neurons' architecture than of their biological functions. ERIC VANDERNOOT, BOYNTON BEACH Boynton Beach, city (1990 pop. 46,194), Palm Beach co., SE Fla., on the Atlantic coast; inc. 1920. A major suburban area, it is also a beach resort and vegetable-shipping point. , FLA FLA Florida (old style) FLA Macromedia Flash (file extension) FLA Flash Files (file extension) FLA Fair Labor Association FLA Front Line Assembly . |
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