STABILITY (Poly-) by multiple LOCALIZATIONS
Charles François (2004). STABILITY (Poly-) by multiple LOCALIZATIONS, International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(2): 3160.
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(2) |
| ID | ◀ 3160 ▶ |
| Object type | Methodology or model |
W.R. ASHBY states: “…in a large polystable system, a whole reaction will be based on activations that are both numerous and widely scattered…
- “…so a reaction based on numerous and widely scattered elements will tend to have more immunity to localized injury than one whose elements are few and compact”(1960, p.182-183)
ASHBY arrived to this conclusion in relation to LASHLEY's experiments about memory traces in the brain. This kind of polystability by non exclusive localisation may explain how a near complete mental rehabilitation is frequently possible after a cerebral haemorrhage, when not too masive. The same behavior is obvious in any human (or insect) society repairing damage after some destructive event.