The Brain-computer Metaphor

"After reading Candace Pert's book Molecules of Emotion, I began to review her research on brain receptor-mapping, especially work done with Miles Herkenham. You may recall seeing his widely distributed images of opiate receptors. These maps offer a new vision of how the brain operates in a predominantly parasynaptic system. In this system, hormones, ligands and peptides freely circulate among and interact with banks of highly specialized receptors. Pert has described the brain as like 'a bag of hormones' (p.139 in Molecules of Emotion).

I'm interested in the philosophical underpinnings that inform web presentations. I believe the metaphors joining brain and computer are largely based on the old synaptic, hardwired paradigm. Herkenham has estimated under 2% of neuronal communication occurs at the synapse (p.139 in Molecules of Emotion). Could metaphoric brain-computer connections also relate to the newer more fluid, hormonal, parasynaptic model we now know exists?" -- excerpt from The Brain-computer Metaphor