Jakob von Uexküll and the origins of cybernetics

Abstract

Jakob von Uexkull studied muscle and nerve physiology of marine invertebrate animals, and before 1905 found the concept of causally effecient cycles and the importance of negative feedback in the control mechanisms within organisms. He developed this concept further in the concept of the function cycle which has later become a basis of animal ethology and semiotics. His idea of pattern recognition by parallel but interconnected nervous elements is similar to those later used as the basis of artificial networks for pattern recognition. Jakob von Uexkull's work as a pioneer of cybernetics has not received attention previously, except for an occasional remark.

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