Analysis of information

Content:

1.	Analysis of information in a computer program
2.	Analysis of information in the nervous system
3.	Reaction to a rich information flow
4.	Reaction to a meager information flow
5.	Conclusions

1. Analysis of information in a computer program

A typical programming task is to determine the meaning of input data by analyzing it. Generally, the analysis occurs in several stages. More subtle properties of the data are analyzed at later stages.

Example. Let the input data be some arithmetic expression:

12*34

The input data, in this case, is represented by a sequence of characters:

1, 2, *, 3, 4

In the first stage of analysis, the sequence of characters is transformed into a sequence of elements of an arithmetic expression:

----------------------------
element type   element value
----------------------------
number         12
operation      *
number         34
----------------------------

At the second stage of the analysis, logical relationships between the elements of the expression are identified and its meaning is determined:

multiply 12 by 34

Now suppose the input contains an error - an invalid character #:

12*#34

This error will be detected already at the first stage of analysis, since the character # does not correspond to any type of element of the expression and, therefore, it will be impossible to construct a sequence of elements of the expression.

Now suppose the input contains another error - an invalid right operand of the operation *:

12*/34

In this case, at the first stage of the analysis, the error will not be detected. The first stage will end with the successful construction of the following sequence of elements:

----------------------------
element type   element value
----------------------------
number         12
operation      *
operation      /
number         34
----------------------------

The error will only be detected at the second stage of analysis.

This example demonstrated that more subtle properties of the data are analyzed at later stages of analysis.

2. Analysis of information in the nervous system

If we assume that the analysis of information in the nervous system is similar to that in a computer program, then we can state the following. The input information flow goes through several stages of analysis, sequentially transmitted from lower brain structures to higher ones. More subtle properties of the information flow are analyzed in higher-level brain structures.

Analysis of information in the nervous system:

              |--------------------------> p1
              |       |------------------> p2
              |       |       |----------> p3
              |       |       |       |--> p4
              |       |       |       |
i --> so --> bs1 --> bs2 --> bs3 --> bs4

Conventional signs:

`i` -	input information flow
`so` -	sense organs
`bsN` -	`N`-level brain structure
`pN` -	property of the `N`-th level of subtlety

If an information flow i has a set of properties { p1, p2, ... }, then, theoretically, the flow i can be represented as a sum of sub-flows:

i = i1 + i2 + ..., where

iN - is a sub-flow of the N-th level, possessing only one property of the original flow i, namely the property of the N-th level of subtlety pN.

With this in mind, the analysis of information in the nervous system can be depicted as follows:

                                         p4
                                 p3      p3
                         p2      p2      p2
                 p1      p1      p1      p1
i --> so --> bs1 --> bs2 --> bs3 --> bs4
  i4     i4      i4      i4      i4
  i3     i3      i3      i3
  i2     i2      i2
  i1     i1

This diagram illustrates how a set of properties { p1, p2, p3, p4 } is gradually extracted from an initial flow i represented as a sum of sub-flows { i1 + i2 + i3 + i4 }.

It is quite logical to assume that at a normal level of development of the nervous system, brain structures of higher levels are absent. This means that it is impossible to analyze the subtle properties of the information flow.

Scheme of information analysis in the normal nervous system:

                         p2
                 p1      p1
i --> so --> bs1 --> bs2
  i4     i4      i4      i4
  i3     i3      i3      i3
  i2     i2      i2
  i1     i1

This diagram illustrates that after the analysis was completed, higher level sub-flows were not analyzed.

3. Reaction to a rich information flow

A rich information flow is a flow that has subtle properties, a artwork of genius level, for example.

Developed nervous system:

                                         p4
                                 p3      p3
                         p2      p2      p2
                 p1      p1      p1      p1
i --> so --> bs1 --> bs2 --> bs3 --> bs4
  i4     i4      i4      i4      i4
  i3     i3      i3      i3
  i2     i2      i2
  i1     i1

The information has been analyzed completely. The emotional reaction is rich, positive.

Normal nervous system:

                         p2
                 p1      p1
i --> so --> bs1 --> bs2
  i4     i4      i4      i4
  i3     i3      i3      i3
  i2     i2      i2
  i1     i1

The information has been analyzed not completely: only rough properties. Therefore, the emotional reaction is meager. Sub-flows of higher levels did not participate in the analysis, they created a useless load on the channels of information transmission in the nervous system, actually being a hindrance, and, thus, causing discomfort and irritation. Therefore, the emotional reaction is negative.

4. Reaction to a meager information flow

A meager information flow is a flow that does not have subtle properties, a artwork of mediocre level, for example.

Developed nervous system:

                         p2      p2      p2
                 p1      p1      p1      p1
i --> so --> bs1 --> bs2 --> bs3 --> bs4
  i2     i2      i2
  i1     i1

The information has been analyzed completely. The emotional reaction is meager, because the information does not contain subtle properties. The emotional reaction is negative, because there is an understanding that the information is meager. Understanding is achieved by comparing with sensations when perceiving rich information.

Normal nervous system:

                         p2
                 p1      p1
i --> so --> bs1 --> bs2
  i2     i2      i2 
  i1     i1

The information has been analyzed completely. The emotional reaction is meager, because the information does not contain subtle properties. The emotional reaction is positive, because:

*	There is no useless load on the information transmission channels created by sub-flows of higher levels.
*	There is no understanding that the information is meager (understanding is impossible, because an adequate comparison with sensations when perceiving rich information is impossible).

5. Conclusions

Normal/developed nervous system:

*	Rich emotional experiences are impossible/possible.
*	Adequate perception of rich information flows, for example, artworks of a genius level, is impossible/possible.
*	A comfortable information environment is characterized by the absence (intellectual slums)/presence of high-level information sub-flows.

It is quite logical to assume that in addition to the absence of higher-level brain structures, the following is also characteristic of a normal nervous system:

*	information loss during transmission between brain structures
*	information analysis errors

Therefore, if a rich information flow causes a positive reaction in a person with a normal nervous system, then this is explained only by errors in the analysis, and not by its adequacy.