The development of the brain is "the high-level functional area wrapping the low-level functional area".

In other words, most of the evolution of the central nervous system is in the outer layer of the "original structure", and then evolves into a layer of advanced structure. The "high-level structure" is generally overlaid with the "low-level structure".

The most primitive, the reflex center that regulates important physiological activities such as cardiovascular movement, breathing, swallowing, and vomiting.

On top of this, it is a motor center that adjusts the fibers, corrects the movement of the muscles involved, adjusts the joints, and maintains the coordination of voluntary movements.

At the next level, it includes the nerve center that regulates the endocrine system and enables higher thinking activities and emotions to interact with each other.

And the next layer, is the striatum.

This involves the evolutionary differentiation of a species.

In mammals, the striatum is primarily a nerve center that receives signals from the cerebral cortex and thalamus and regulates movement, and is also responsible for generating "non-declarative memory" (memories that are difficult to express in verbal symbols, including muscle memory). It generally receives "background information" from the brain.

However, on the evolutionary branch of bibows-dinosaurs-birds, the striatum has been greatly developed. For modern birds, the new striatum is sufficient to support more complex mental activities.

Mammals, on the other hand, do not work deeply on the striatum. In addition to the striatum, they have evolved a layer of higher functional areas, known as the "neocortex".

For humans, the deeper the nerves, the less important they are – because they are about the instincts of the body, about the brain's ability to command the body.

But in the age of prosthetics, none of that mattered anymore. The biggest advantage of the natural spine is only "good quality and low price" and "high cost performance".

In the laboratory, there are better data transmission devices than the spine.

And when the biological brain has some kind of irreversible damage, and this damage will gradually worsen, "giving up part of the brain" is also an acceptable option.

As long as the new cortex that generates self-consciousness is preserved, a person can still be considered a human being.

This is the bare minimum.

Of course, this criterion is limited to "prosthetic people with a high rate of reformation".

For natural persons, those low-level parts are basically involved in the most basic functions of life support. Trauma to the neocortex, amnesia, personality upheaval, and insanity are all possible. But if you hurt those primitive parts, you will die directly.

For prosthetic people, it is "which cannot be mechanized to replace which noble".

Xiang Shan was stunned: "This ...... Ah, too. Technology can really do that. It was supposed to come this far. ”

However, this is undoubtedly a very difficult operation.

Because, you have to preserve the neocortex, which is in the outermost layer of the brain. And the autonomic nerves and motor nerves that you need to give up are covered by this layer of neocortex.

It's like "hollowing out the flesh of an apple without damaging the skin" is multiplied by a thousand.

Xiang Shan looked at Tao Enhai: "To what extent are you going to give up?" The bottom line? ”

"Well, the current technology, in the worst case, can dig up the hippocampus." Tao Enhai thought for a while, shook his head and smiled: "There are also a considerable part of the high-grade cortex that is responsible for movement, sensation and the like. The theoretical minimum is to 'preserve a portion of the frontal and temporal cortex'. But let's be honest, humans haven't completely cracked the brain's algorithms. The frontal and temporal lobes do not support thinking. ”

The implication is that the rest can already be replaced by mechanization.

"What about martial arts cultivation? The familiarity, acquisition, and selection of complex movements have a lot to do with the striatum. The transformation of long-term memory is the responsibility of the hippocampus......"

"Yes, if you lose these, you won't be able to remember things with your own brain, and your external performance will also be affected. But there's still a hard drive. It's better than dead. Tao Enhai shook his head. He stood up again and grabbed Xiang Shan by the way: "And you...... You'd better tell us about your real experience. Dressed in someone else's skin, it's hard for me to look at you. ”

"I can explain something about this. But it must be kept strictly confidential. Xiang Shan looked at Tao Enhai: "The data line is directly connected." I will only accept this form of dialogue. ”

Tao Enhai was silent for a moment. He said to his disciple, "Lu Xiu, give me a data cable." ”

Hearing that he didn't need immediate surgery, Lu Xiu breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't dare to look at his teacher, and lowered his head and pulled out a data cable from his waist.

Tao Enhai arched his hand at the other knights: "I'm sorry, brothers, this matter involves a little bit of the past. I'm going to talk to this guy alone. ”

With that, he followed Xiang Shan into the operating room.

The walls of the operating room are covered with plastic film to isolate it from the soil. The space was small, only for two or three people, and the small number of instruments had filled the space. If you want to have surgery, you have to bend over and lower your body.

Only the voice of a prosthetic person can perform surgery in such a harsh environment.

Tao Enhai sat on the ground and pointed to the opposite side.

Xiang Shan also sat down.

Tao Enhai inserted a section of the data cable on the side of his skull—if it was a natural person, it should be the position behind the ear. Xiang Shan inserted the other end of the data cable into his wrist.

Who are you? Tao Enhai asked; [Every guy who claims to be Xiang Shan actually understands that he is not Xiang Shan. They all have their own childhood as the 'other' in their hearts. Now online memories of Xiangshan, few of them are from childhood. This part cannot be covered. The so-called "Martial God" is only more identified with Xiangshan's youth memory. You should have that memory too. 】

[Tell me, who are you?] Speak as you have that memory. 】

At that moment just now, Tao Enhai was sure that this guy was a "true personality covering". The signal he transmits shows a sense of "internal strength". As of now, the pseudo-personality overlay cannot use internal strength.

Xiang Shan wanted to smile bitterly: [To be honest, I don't have that kind of memory. I also wondered if I was anyone else. 】

[! Tao Enkaidao: [Are you ashamed of that "not a memory of Xiangshan"? If you really think that you are Xiangshan, then this idea is shameful! At least the ones who imitate more of it - I mean the so-called "Valkyrie" - don't hide it! 】

[No, I'm telling the truth. Xiang Shan said.

He evokes his "first memories that can be traced"—memories that Yuki picked up from the dump.

- Blank ...... Blank...... Blank...... Water...... A little light......

And then there's the recycle bin town thing. Yulia's conversation with the mayor......

[Since it is directly connected, it is said that I can only "conceal", not "fabricate". Xiang Shan said.

"Fiction" evokes special neural activity. On an emotional level, fictional stories are very different from factual experiences.

Perhaps a genius liar can construct a fictional story in an instant, and cannot remain silent on the surface. He can even pretend to be real in a short period of time through a "selfless performance".

But fiction is fiction.

In the case of a stable connection, the master of internal power can capture this fleeting subtle performance.

[Picked up from the garbage dump? It's a joke. 【Are you the protagonist of a science fiction manga?】 】

[It's hard for me to believe it, but that's the way it is. 】To the mountain road.

[With all due respect, were you executed by someone and put there after instilling a false self-identity?] Tao Enkaidao: [That's the best explanation I can think of. 】

Xiang Shan nodded unexpectedly: [To be honest, I think this guess is quite convincing. But the problem is that I don't have any "memories that don't belong to Xiangshan" in my brain. 】

[A large amount of homanidanase can be explained.] Taunkaido: [You may have the original memory, but it was reset when the Dan enzyme restored the brain. 】

Xiang Shan felt that the position of his "chest" had a soft, foamy touch.

This is "sympathy".

Tao Enhai is "sympathizing" with the nameless people who have suffered from "this kind of thing".

Xiang Shandao: [However, there are still doubts. For knights, Dan enzyme is a very valuable resource. To completely reset an adult's memory, it takes a lot of Dan enzymes. Not to mention that after that, I had to carve the memories of Xiangshan into my brain. If it was only for the execution of "traitors", it was impossible for a knight to be so extravagant. 】

【Asylum ...... Not like that. At least the local patrons, only when I was out of the blue, didn't know me at all. Could it be some kind of psychological experiment by the Knights of Scientific Research? And the kind with a higher level than the Knights at the end of Pine Eagle Castle? 】

"The devil knows. Tao Enhai snorted coldly in his heart: [I only hope you don't pretend to be Xiang Shan anymore. 】

[I really don't have any other memories. Xiang Shan said: [In fact, even Xiang Shan's experience in his youth, I obtained it from other sources. If I didn't think I was Xiangshan, I wouldn't know who I should be. For the sake of my mental health, to avoid mental illness caused by identity confusion, I would like to call myself this way for a while more until I find my memory. 】

[Hmph, whatever you want. Taunkaido: [But you have to remember! You are not to the mountain. You are yourself. Don't crave the mountains to be able to take it all together. The freedom and dignity of human beings must be fought for by themselves in the present! 】

Xiang Shan said: [Then again, do you need my help with the separation of the brain? From your point of view, it doesn't seem like your disciple's hope is very big. 】

In addition to verbal exchanges, there was also an exchange of potential thoughts. As long as the thoughts that appear near the surface of consciousness can be captured and transmitted by algorithms.

[You saved a little girl before? You seem to have a problem with brain surgery. 】

[No, Dr. Tao.] Said to the mountain: [After seeing you...... I remembered it again. Memories about surgery. 】