© Cedarville University International Conference on Creationism. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of Cedarville University. HUMAN BRAIN FUNCTION ABOVE ALL OTHER AND THE CREATION MODEL James D. Johansen, School of Engineering and Computational Sciences, Liberty University, 1971 University Blvd., Lynchburg, Virginia 24515 jdjohansen@liberty.edu ABSTRACT The human brain functions at a level beyond any other brain among all animals. Since human beings are made in the image of God (Imago Dei), there must be signatures of this fact in its design. This paper will introduce an engineering methodology for exploring this concept. In terms of scope, this paper will focus its brain exploration on a key neurological building block, neurons, and networks of them. Later works will explore other aspects. An architectural model of neurons and neural networks in the human brain, the central nervous system, and the body is developed. Additionally, a Creation Model is constructed. Utilizing these models offer the potential to unpack human Imago Dei reality. This premise provides a rich area to explore that leverages the Biblical creation to capture the engineering framework God used in fashioning creation and His crowning achievement, human beings. By including the design and purpose of man from a biblical point of view, the most significant engineering context for human brain processing can be captured. A computer science full compute stack model will map neuron and neural network functions to computing layers. To adequately include human capabilities, it is shown that an extra full compute stack layer is required. The resulting insight from its inclusion is discussed. The paper will analyze brain neurons and neural networks using systems engineering methods and the systems modeling language (SysML) to capture architectural drivers. The aim is to provide new insight and guide future work. Two complimentary architectural modeling points of view are included, (1) neuroscience: where biological neuron and neural network details are captured at a top level, and (2) neuromorphic computing: where the artificial implementation approaches of neuron and neural network are highlighted. The answers to three research questions are discussed. (1) How does a Creation Model provide additional insights and context for the implementation and mission of human beings? (2) What modifications to the full compute stack model are required to capture unique human brain function? (3) What observations about human brain function can be made from the neuron and neural network architectural models? KEYWORDS Neuroscience, neuromorphic computing, neuron modeling, spiking neural networks, design patterns, model-based systems engineering (MBSE), systems modeling language (SysML), architectural modeling, biomimicry, creation model Johansen, J.D. 2023. Human brain function above all other and the creation model. In J.H. Whitmore (editor), Proceedings of the Ninth International Conference on Creationism, pp. 288-315. Cedarville, Ohio: Cedarville University International Conference on Creationism. I. INTRODUCTION A. Overview Man is created in the image of God, and as a result, humanity has computational and reasoning abilities unparalleled by any animal. This puts humankind in a unique position. No other being has this distinction. How can the unique characteristics captured in the human brain be explored and show the differences between human brain function and every other animal brain function? It can take much work to navigate. Active neuroscience research is ongoing to clarify our understanding of human brain biology. Plus, biomimicry seeking to make more efficient neuromorphic computing capability is being pursued with a good potential return on investment. In this paper, the neuroscience research findings will be assessed from an engineering point of view. If one asks, “How should one design the human brain?,” it would require going through a structured systems engineering effort. Unfortunately, there are many gaps in our understanding of how the human brain works at many levels, making reverse engineering difficult and currently incomplete. Still, a structured engineering process can uncover the architectural and design trades required to develop a functional design. Below are several term definitions used in the paper, which may be unfamiliar to some. • Full Compute Stack is a computer science-based model term used to describe a layered approach to capturing the levels of computing. • Neural Circuits are biological neural networks. At times the term neural network is also used. • Neuromorphic Computing is a term used to describe artificial neural networks that aim to do involved computational tasks characteristically done by biological brains. There may not be an exact one-for-one mapping between biological and artificial implementations. • Neural Networks are connections of neurons that cooperatively work together in artificial implementations of computational capabilities. 9th 2023
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