Outline of a Cue Editor - Brain Theory from a Circuits and Systems Perspective - page 82

Chapter 5
Outline of a Cue Editor
Introduction
This chapter introduces cue editing. Usually what passes through conscious short-term
memory (STM) is a result of sensory inputs, visual images, and sounds, for instance.
Conscious STM in turn serves to provide cues that are required to produce associative
returns from subconscious long-term memory [ 1 - 3 ]. These returns, if they have
priority, will replace the current contents of conscious STM. A cue editor is envisioned
as kicking in when cues are flawed, taking important attributes from conscious STM
and manipulating them to help guarantee associative returns from subconscious long-
term memory.
Cue editing is necessary because STM attributes quickly fade, soon to be
replaced by other thoughts. Under fading conditions, attributes can be incomplete
or inconsistent. For instance, one image might mix with another, providing cues
that will not associate with anything. For confused cues a cue editor is essential.
A similar situation occurs for fleeting recalls from subconscious memory,
frequently a source of cues for new recalls. Important attributes may be missing,
or past images may leave a residue of unrelated cues. Cue editing is necessary.
The specifications for a cue editor follow from what it must do, which is to
assure associations by modifying the available cues in the sense of removing cues
one or two at a time, and if this fails, restoring them, and removing different ones.
Cues are modified very slightly at first, and if this fails, a larger number of them are
modified at a time. Without a cue editor, significant dead time in consciousness
would frequently result, with unfortunate mental blocks; and this would signifi-
cantly reduce the survivability of humans.
A cue editor also supports subliminal search. To recap what this means, every-
one has experienced a memory block. But unknown to a person, a subliminal search
proceeds for what is trying to be remembered. Cues keep cycling subconsciously,
working to achieve a correct recall. When a person least expects it, the correct
memory will click into consciousness. This is an indication that the brain has
worked in the background, changing cues until they achieve useful recalls.