Thats being said I have spent much time watching the Leaf Cutter ants in the exhibit in Central Park. And pondered these very questions of the hive mentality. Thanks for posting the video.

You may be interested in Rob Wilson’s books on the matter. The first addresses the issue with respect to cognitive process; the second with respect to biology and the third (still being written, I think) the social sciences.

Here’s a link to the cognition one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0521544947/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link

I haven’t read it, but it’s said to be an excellent book.

Mine too. :)

I don’t know who took the picture, but someone snapped a shot of Scott tattooing me forehead (must have been 8 years ago now) and we both get quite a kick out of it… it’s just a really beautiful shot and neither of us would have ever dreamed we’d be here together like this today.

Actually if neurons are aware of their surroundings it would be massive settback for artifical intelligence research. As always AI researchers has assumed that any mechanics behind any cognitive function is actually alghorithmically soluble and therefore computational. Eventhough one could have to need computer with unlimited memory. If neural scientist´s find out that neurons dont only take stimuli and gives somekind of feedback, but are able to change their “weight” before stimuli for a special purpose. Then AI researchers would have to abandon their paradigm. If one
dont have logical or mathematical tool to solve or simulate brainfunctions, one dont have nothing. (neurons which are aware would have to be calculated in second-order-logic and that is not algorithmically soluble.)

There is also few quantum mechanical theories of mind awareness. They are purely methaphysicals but you can find something with Holonomic brain theory