In terms of memory/storage, would you compare the human brain to RAM, ROM, an HDD, a flash drive, or ???

Question

So far it looks like lois c and american-guitarist understand my question.

Answer 1

I guess it would depend on the person... for me... probably HDD

Answer 2

Baby's are born hard wired to scream, suck, seek etc. They also have a walking reflex. These are decidedly ROM, that they read from that when they "boot up". It cannot usually be overwritten(Read only), but can be modified. That is consistent with new generation ROM.
As it boots up further, babies make use of their working memory (RAM). (I have seen my mother second's ago, so don't cry yet). From the start, they start saving memories, but this is not immediatly appearent. That is the HDD.

For most of our daily lives we use ROM (that hurts!), our HDD (you switch on the microwave there), RAM (I walked down the corridor, to go to the toilet) and flash drive (note from my wife to buy milk).

I think computers and paper are our flash drives. So the human brain then has RAM, ROM, HDD. The flash drive is not part of our brains, just as the dongle is not part of the computer.

very cool question actually..

Answer 3

All of the above do the same job that the brain does. In fact, I would make it easier by saying COMPUTER=BRAIN and not just one part of the computer. RAM can store memory and you can access it randomly at anytime, so does brain (thought they dont know yet where the memory is actually stored). ROM is something that stores data that cant be modified, so does brain. Same thing with the new Hard drives. You cant really compare the flash drive to the brain, because we are born with the amount of brain we will be using and we cannot add to it. But in computers we can add the flash drive to add extra memory.

Answer 4

I would say that there are two areas of our brains: Short term memory and long term memory. From what I have read, recent events are stored in our Short term memory, and periodically transferred to our Long term memory where such memories as the name of your first-grade teacher, your favorite song, and your sweet 16 party are stored. Of course, I am not a doctor, so this is not a qualified medical answer. But I do believe I have read this on more than one occasion, and the transfer of recent events from short to long term memory happens at night, during REM sleep.

So, I would compare our short term memory to RAM. RAM is where the computer does it's "Work" and that information is lost when the computer is turned off.

I would compare our long term memory to Hard Drive storage. This is where the comptuter stores information in an organized manner so that it can be retirieved at a later time.

This is all just my opinion, but I stand by my comparison. To me, it's really that simple. ROM is like Hard Disk storage but it cannot be changed (i.e. a CD or DVD). Your long term memories cannot be changed in that what happened at the prom is what happened, but your feelings about it can change. To me flash memory is just additional RAM.

Answer 5

animal or human memory has been called a soft or wet drive.. it has its own type of programing and stores things in its own way we still don't understand now animals ( humans also) store and get info from there brains. a hard drive (etc etc) is much easier to mangage.. it follows set rules and guide lines...animal brains do not...NOW help me find my umbrella!!! haha

Answer 6

the human brain is the fastest and most complex computer and it is made from out of this world, actually from in the heavens so to speak
all the best

Answer 7

computer are only as smart as the people how program them human brains are better than computers