{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4235796286","doi":"https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.6969","title":"Design for a brain","display_name":"Design for a brain","publication_year":1954,"publication_date":"1954-01-01","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W4235796286","doi":"https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.6969"},"language":"en","primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.5962/bhl.title.6969","doi":"https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.6969","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.6969","pdf_url":"https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/itempdf/30296","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306464293","display_name":"Wiley eBooks","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"listed_in":[],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310320595","host_organization_name":"Wiley","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310320595"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Wiley"],"type":"ebook platform"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"monograph"},"volume":null,"type":"book","is_traditional":true,"indexed_in":["crossref"],"open_access":{"is_oa":true,"oa_status":"bronze","oa_url":"https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/itempdf/30296","any_repository_has_fulltext":false},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5025783511","display_name":"William Ross Ashby","orcid":null,"observed_orcids":[]},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":true,"raw_author_name":"William Ross. Ashby","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":0,"institutions_distinct_count":0,"corresponding_author_ids":["https://openalex.org/A5025783511"],"corresponding_institution_ids":[],"apc_list":null,"apc_paid":null,"fwci":4.5,"has_fulltext":true,"cited_by_count":139,"citation_normalized_percentile":{"value":1.0,"is_in_top_1_percent":true,"is_in_top_10_percent":true},"cited_by_percentile_year":{"min":88,"max":99},"biblio":{"volume":null,"issue":null,"first_page":null,"last_page":null},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10320","display_name":"Neural Networks and Applications","score":0.4242999851703644,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1702","display_name":"Artificial Intelligence"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10320","display_name":"Neural Networks and Applications","score":0.4242999851703644,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1702","display_name":"Artificial Intelligence"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10581","display_name":"Neural dynamics and brain function","score":0.17980000376701355,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2805","display_name":"Cognitive Neuroscience"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/28","display_name":"Neuroscience"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/1","display_name":"Life Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11883","display_name":"Embodied and Extended Cognition","score":0.09870000183582306,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2805","display_name":"Cognitive Neuroscience"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/28","display_name":"Neuroscience"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/1","display_name":"Life Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/adaptive-behavior","display_name":"adaptive behavior","score":0.8550000190734863},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/nervous-system","display_name":"nervous system","score":0.7609999775886536},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/random-assembly","display_name":"random assembly","score":0.722000002861023},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/statistical-stability","display_name":"statistical stability","score":0.6439999938011169},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/learning-traces","display_name":"learning traces","score":0.460999995470047},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/neuroplasticity","display_name":"neuroplasticity","score":0.3790000081062317}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C15744967","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9418","display_name":"Psychology","level":0,"score":0.4108901619911194},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C41008148","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21198","display_name":"Computer science","level":0,"score":0.3663497269153595}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":3,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.5962/bhl.title.6969","doi":"https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.6969","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.6969","pdf_url":"https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/itempdf/30296","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306464293","display_name":"Wiley eBooks","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"listed_in":[],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310320595","host_organization_name":"Wiley","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310320595"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Wiley"],"type":"ebook platform"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"monograph"},{"id":"pmh:oai:biodiversitylibrary.org:item/30296","doi":null,"is_oa":false,"landing_page_url":"https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/30296","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306402618","display_name":"Biodiversity Heritage Library (Smithsonian Institution)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"listed_in":[],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I103187081","host_organization_name":"Smithsonian Institution","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I103187081"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"submittedVersion","is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":"","raw_type":"Book"},{"id":"pmh:oai:biodiversitylibrary.org:title/6969","doi":null,"is_oa":false,"landing_page_url":"https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/6969","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306402618","display_name":"Biodiversity Heritage Library (Smithsonian Institution)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"listed_in":[],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I103187081","host_organization_name":"Smithsonian Institution","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I103187081"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"submittedVersion","is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":"","raw_type":"Book"}],"best_oa_location":{"id":"doi:10.5962/bhl.title.6969","doi":"https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.6969","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.6969","pdf_url":"https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/itempdf/30296","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306464293","display_name":"Wiley eBooks","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"listed_in":[],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310320595","host_organization_name":"Wiley","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310320595"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Wiley"],"type":"ebook platform"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"monograph"},"sustainable_development_goals":[],"study_designs":[],"awards":[],"funders":[],"has_content":{"pdf":true,"grobid_xml":true},"content_urls":{"pdf":"https://content.openalex.org/works/W4235796286.pdf","grobid_xml":"https://content.openalex.org/works/W4235796286.grobid-xml"},"referenced_works_count":37,"referenced_works":["https://openalex.org/W568568544","https://openalex.org/W1982293321","https://openalex.org/W1989084374","https://openalex.org/W1989124606","https://openalex.org/W1998058778","https://openalex.org/W2005468759","https://openalex.org/W2006427903","https://openalex.org/W2014500943","https://openalex.org/W2022305914","https://openalex.org/W2024971805","https://openalex.org/W2040166998","https://openalex.org/W2040341115","https://openalex.org/W2053428804","https://openalex.org/W2061230487","https://openalex.org/W2061245532","https://openalex.org/W2062503756","https://openalex.org/W2074186690","https://openalex.org/W2078547036","https://openalex.org/W2082170795","https://openalex.org/W2086389084","https://openalex.org/W2089794043","https://openalex.org/W2116874461","https://openalex.org/W2140535127","https://openalex.org/W2156823287","https://openalex.org/W2170806689","https://openalex.org/W2474842267","https://openalex.org/W2497169910","https://openalex.org/W2795831086","https://openalex.org/W3217323006","https://openalex.org/W4214845555","https://openalex.org/W4229740732","https://openalex.org/W4233253286","https://openalex.org/W4240204662","https://openalex.org/W4249318827","https://openalex.org/W4254237465","https://openalex.org/W4300191048","https://openalex.org/W6678713382"],"related_works":["https://openalex.org/W4211155493","https://openalex.org/W4381888040","https://openalex.org/W2785747986","https://openalex.org/W4251506195","https://openalex.org/W2567512257","https://openalex.org/W4210480064","https://openalex.org/W405549885","https://openalex.org/W3018110032","https://openalex.org/W4214665379","https://openalex.org/W4381851600"],"abstract_inverted_index":{"The":[0,387],"book":[1],"is":[2,48,122,133,219,299,350,359,389],"not":[3,62,111,182,220,300,351],"a":[4,15,75,206,222,225,264,332,339,360,375],"treatise":[5],"on":[6,54,95],"all":[7],"cerebral":[8],"mechanisms":[9],"but":[10,98,184,262,303,348],"an":[11,199],"attempt":[12],"to":[13,27,66,119,134,198,211,236,247,324,337,367,373,392],"solve":[14],"specific":[16],"problem":[17],":":[18,192,307,353],"the":[19,22,35,38,44,55,69,96,104,113,126,253,271,276,293,296,312,325,330,344,355,364,370,384,396,404],"origin":[20],"of":[21,74,242,329],"nervous":[23,39,127,297,345],"system's":[24,346,365],"unique":[25],"ability":[26],"produce":[28,338],"adaptive":[29,382],"behaviour.The":[30,285],"work":[31,286],"has":[32,224],"as":[33,160,167,266,270,291,354,377],"basis":[34],"fact":[36],"that":[37,46,57,80,147,158,165,177,217,275,295,308],"system":[40,128,149,223,254,265,277,298],"behaves":[41,81],"adaptively":[42],"and":[43,139,169,268,283,318],"hypothesis":[45],"it":[47,52,77,132,215,250,273,315],"essentially":[49],"mechanistic":[50],";":[51,261,395],"proceeds":[53],"assumption":[56],"these":[58],"two":[59],"data":[60],"are":[61,180,195,234],"irre-":[63],"concilable.It":[64],"attempts":[65],"deduce":[67,120],"from":[68,84],"observed":[70],"facts":[71,114],"what":[72,121,124],"sort":[73],"mechanism":[76],"must":[78,129,153],"be":[79,171,212,279,289,335,393,400],"so":[82,88,176,202,237,352],"differently":[83],"any":[85,148],"machine":[86,207],"made":[87],"far.Many":[89],"other":[90],"workers":[91],"have":[92,100,117,130,145],"proposed":[93],"theories":[94],"subject,":[97],"they":[99],"usually":[101,196],"left":[102],"open":[103],"question":[105],"whether":[106],"some":[107],"different":[108],"theory":[109],"might":[110,204,334],"fit":[112],"equally":[115],"well.I":[116],"attempted":[118],"necessary,":[123],"properties":[125],"if":[131],"behave":[135,159,166],"at":[136,174,209],"once":[137],"mechanistically":[138],"adaptively.Proceeding":[140],"in":[141,245,263,343,383],"this":[142,218,257,349],"way":[143],"I":[144],"deduced":[146],"which":[150],"shows":[151],"adaptation":[152,366],"(1)":[154],"contain":[155,163],"many":[156,164],"variables":[157,233],"step-functions,":[161],"(2)":[162],"part-functions,":[168],"(3)":[170],"assembled":[172,208],"largely":[173],"random,":[175],"its":[178,232,239,248,309,380],"details":[179],"determined":[181],"individually":[183],"statistically.The":[185],"last":[186],"require-":[187],"ment":[188],"may":[189,287],"seem":[190],"surprising":[191],"man-made":[193],"machines":[194],"built":[197],"exact":[200],"specification,":[201],"we":[203],"expect":[205],"random":[210],"wholly":[213],"chaotic.But":[214],"appears":[216],"so.Such":[221],"fundamental":[226,361],"tendency,":[227],"shown":[228],"most":[229],"clearly":[230],"when":[231],"numerous,":[235],"arrange":[238],"internal":[240],"pattern":[241],"action":[243],"that,":[244],"relation":[246],"environment,":[249],"becomes":[251],"stable.If":[252],"were":[255],"inert":[256],"would":[258],"mean":[259],"little":[260],"active":[267,282],"complex":[269,284],"brain,":[272],"implies":[274],"will":[278,378],"self-preserving":[280],"through":[281],"also":[288],"regarded":[290],"amplifying":[292],"view":[294],"only":[301],"sensitive":[302],"'":[304,306,328],"delicate":[305],"encounters":[310,356],"with":[311,320],"environment":[313],"mark":[314],"readily,":[316],"extensively,":[317],"permanently,":[319],"traces":[321,371],"distributed":[322],"according":[323],"4":[326],"accidents":[327],"encounter.Such":[331],"distribution":[333,376],"expected":[336],"merely":[340],"chaotic":[341],"alteration":[342],"behaviour,":[347],"multiply":[357],"there":[358],"tendency":[362],"for":[363,369,403],"improve,":[368],"tend":[372],"such":[374],"make":[379],"behaviour":[381],"subsequent":[385],"encounters.*":[386],"summary":[388],"too":[390],"brief":[391],"accurate":[394],"full":[397],"text":[398],"should":[399],"con-":[401],"sulted":[402],"necessary":[405],"qualifications.":[406]},"counts_by_year":[{"year":2026,"cited_by_count":4},{"year":2025,"cited_by_count":1},{"year":2024,"cited_by_count":1},{"year":2023,"cited_by_count":1},{"year":2022,"cited_by_count":2},{"year":2021,"cited_by_count":2},{"year":2020,"cited_by_count":8},{"year":2019,"cited_by_count":7},{"year":2018,"cited_by_count":8},{"year":2017,"cited_by_count":8},{"year":2016,"cited_by_count":6},{"year":2015,"cited_by_count":5},{"year":2014,"cited_by_count":3},{"year":2013,"cited_by_count":4},{"year":2012,"cited_by_count":2}],"updated_date":"2026-11-08T12:12:28.789561","created_date":"2022-05-12T00:00:00"}