W. W. McCulloch

W. W. McCulloch was a neuroscientist and cybernetician who, in the 1940s, helped pioneer the understanding of how the brain processes information. He collaborated with Walter Pitts to develop the first theoretical model of a neural network, representing neurons as simple units that could activate or not activate based on inputs—similar to how digital circuits work today. Their work laid the foundation for artificial intelligence and cognitive science by showing how complex thought could emerge from basic units working together. McCulloch's contributions helped bridge biology and computation, shaping modern theories of mind and machine intelligence.