Neurophysiologists have recently discovered that Nitric Oxide (NO) plays a vital role in many brain functions, including learning and memory.

BBC: Robot brains become more human

Hawkins, who will continue to work as chief technical officer of Treo maker palmOne (nasdaq: PLMO - news - people ), already has his own research lab to study the neocortex, a massive part of the brain thought to hold such higher level functions as language, learning, memory and complex thought.

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