MadSci Network: Computer Science
Query:

Subject: Can humans solve np-complete problems?

Date: Mon Jul 7 15:53:39 2003
Posted by Peter Gadzinski
Grade level: grad (science) School: No school entered.
City: Hayward State/Province: CA Country: USA
Area of science: Computer Science
ID: 1057611219.Cs
Message:

It is safe to assumed that the human brain can solve complex problems (like 
pattern and voice recognition and path navigation) that computers currently 
can't. The question is, has anyone actually done the formal proof that the 
human brain can actually solve an NP-complete problem? That is, has anyone ever 
formalized a problem that humans can solve, and prove that humans can solve it 
exactly (and not just heuristically)? An example is chess : except for errors 
due to fatigue, humans can out-perform computers. Given the number of brain 
cells and time and level of solution,  however, is this proof of an human-brain 
polynomial solution of an NP-complete problem?


Re: Can humans solve np-complete problems?

Current Queue | Current Queue for Computer Science | Computer Science archives

Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Computer Science.



MadSci Home | Information | Search | Random Knowledge Generator | MadSci Archives | Mad Library | MAD Labs | MAD FAQs | Ask a ? | Join Us! | Help Support MadSci


MadSci Network, webadmin@www.madsci.org
© 1995-2003. All rights reserved.