human
We didn't know we had anything at first, said Holt.
gpt
The pulse was so low in amplitude that it was hard to pick out of the noise, but the analyzer showed it was consistently present under certain conditions of the subject.
human
What conditions?
gpt
At the exact moment of committing an error! I should say it occurs between the moment of making the decision to carry out an erroneous act and the triggering of the motor impulse that executes it.
human
How can you be sure it doesn't occur at any other time as well?
gpt
Because we've run every set of charts through the analyzer and this particular impulse comes out no other place.
human
It looks very interesting, Paul said.
gpt
But why did you say you've got proof that a human being is nothing but a cybernetic gadget? I don't see what this has got to do with it.
human
I didn't give you quite all the story, Holt said smugly.
gpt
I should have said that the pulse occurred every time there was an _intent_ to perform an error. Sometimes that intent was not carried out.
human
I don't understand.
gpt
That pulse is nothing more nor less than a feedback pulse indicating that an action matrix has been set up which is in non-conformity with the previously chosen pattern of learning or intent. It's a feedback alarm carrying the information that an error will result if the proposed action is carried out. When the feedback is successfully returned to the action matrix a change is made until there is no feedback and a correct action is taken. When the feedback is blocked or ignored, an error results. It's as simple as that! Your complex human being is nothing but a fairly elaborate cybernetic machine operating wholly on feedback principles. The only time he fails and breaks down is when he ceases to act like the cybernetic machine that he is!