Spark vs Brain Module

[Jinto]

I'm wondering what people think the actual purpose is for these two items.
There seems to be a lot of overlap between the two and it always bugs me a bit. For the purpose of this discussion we can probably stick to Beast Wars/Machines and the IDW continuity, since BW introduced the Spark and IDW has made sparks & brain modules a big part of its recent stories.

So according to tfwiki the spark is the 'soul' of a transformer, and the brain module contains the bots thoughts and personality. However we have seen many cases where a spark has been switched between bodies and the 'mind' of the transformer has gone with it.
- Starscream takes over Waspinator in BW
- Megatron in Beast Machines
- Delinquishment Clinics in IDW
- (debatable) *spoiler* The Vehicon Generals in BM were claimed to be the reprogrammed sparks of the missing Maximals.
- (debatable) Megatron going from his Stealth Bomber body to his new body in the recent RID comic.

So what is the point of the brain module? It can't be the transformers thoughts and personality because then there wouldn't be any need for a spark. I mean you could just power it with good old electricity and you'd have a fully operational sparkles transformer, wouldn't you?
And as we've seen in IDW's MTMTE shadow play storyline, a TF can have his mind altered by tampering with his brain module.

But we've also seen bots die when their brain module (computer core in Beast Wars?) is destroyed.
- Blackarachnia is killed when her shell program attaches her 'core' in Beast Wars.
- (debatable) Many bots are indicated to be killed when their heads are crushed or destroyed. This takes for granted that their spark isnt housed in their head.

What do you all think? I'd love some good opinions and discussion about this.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

- (debatable) The Vehicon Generals in BM were claimed to be the reprogrammed sparks of the missing Maximals. Er, *spoiler*

thanks for including that <:-/

Aaah, the old theological debate.

One could think of it that the brain module controls the body movements, whereas the spark holds the personality.

No spark = no motivation/ the character you know ceases to exist. (like a clinically brain-dead person)
No brain = no ability for movement. Like a ??? Um. can't think of an example as there is no proof of souls existing.

How's that?

[Trent]

Well, I don't know how much my opinions worth since I haven't read the new comics, but I interpret the spark to be, as you said, the 'soul' or essence of a TF. I see the brain module as the link between the spark and TF's body and the physical universe. The brain module forms the personality, traits ,etc, as well as performing all the lower functions (equivalent to breathing, regulating body temperature, etc). It also acts as an interpreter for the spark in 2 ways. It allows the essence of the TF to 'be', for lack of a better word. It also interprets the actions and experiences and sends them back to the spark in order for it to feel and grow.

Here's my take on Megatron; I don't think that his spark is evil or necessarily bad. It is very strong willed, commanding, focused, cunning, etc. But combine these traits with the experiences he has had, both within his own mind and those he witnessed around him in his environment, with the traits of his spark and you end up with the Meg's we all know and love.

Give him a different life, with him walking a different path under different circumstances, those same traits could make him an excellent leader of the forces of good. Inversely Prime, given the right circumstances and his spark's inherent traits, could make him a far worse harbringer of evil than Megatron.

Think nature/nurture.

[Paulbot]

- (debatable) Many bots are indicated to be killed when their heads are crushed or destroyed. This takes for granted that their spark isnt housed in their head.

Remember Rossum's trinity. Enough damage to either the spark or brain (or cog) will kill a Transformer.

I think the spark downloads (or backs up) the brain when it's removed from the body, such as the transfers. Except for the odd mutant spark (ghost) like Starscream, a disembodied spark can't really act on its own. Even the birth of a Transformer (spark into robot, forged or constructed cold) apparently needs manual intervention. So a spark with no brain keeps the essence of a TF but isn't conscious. (I think that's partly how the Garrus jail worked). When the spark is placed back in the body or in a new TF body the memories download. Manual manipulation of the brain could still leave permament personality changes that are copied across.

The brain module is their mind, memories, personality etc. Their spark is the crucial part that makes them more than a machine. It's their irreplaceable core to their being.

[kup]

Remember Rossum's trinity. Enough damage to either the spark or brain (or cog) will kill a Transformer.

I think the spark downloads (or backs up) the brain when it's removed from the body, such as the transfers. Except for the odd mutant spark (ghost) like Starscream, a disembodied spark can't really act on its own. Even the birth of a Transformer (spark into robot, forged or constructed cold) apparently needs manual intervention. So a spark with no brain keeps the essence of a TF but isn't conscious. (I think that's partly how the Garrus jail worked). When the spark is placed back in the body or in a new TF body the memories download. Manual manipulation of the brain could still leave permament personality changes that are copied across.

The brain module is their mind, memories, personality etc. Their spark is the crucial part that makes them more than a machine. It's their irreplaceable core to their being.

That makes the most sense to me. I think you got the right explanation.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

thanks for including that <:-/

- (debatable) The Vehicon Generals in BM were claimed to be the reprogrammed sparks of the missing Maximals. Er, *spoiler*

Blahhh, my min read that comment as Vehicon generals from Prime. Damn. I thought it was a remarkable plot movement for Prime...

[Jinto]

thanks for including that <:-/

Sorry, I figured since it was a 15yr old show no one would be in danger of actually having it spoiled... I'll highlight it black.

[Jinto]

I like your way of looking at it, Paulbot. That makes a lot of sense.

[Cat]

Brain module = brain

Cog = heart

Spark = Soul. Hence why it's such a nebulous concept. It's something they can explore more than we humans can, but I think it's still basically part of that hope to live after death, so there's an element of blind faith involved.

[GoktimusPrime]

While BW was the first to coin the term "Spark" which has since become a virtually standardised reference to Transformers' 'souls', the concept itself originated in G1. In the G1 cartoon it was referred to as the "laser core," and the comics used "life essence." The G1 comics showed that Transformers couldn't simply be constructed. Shockwave had to steal the Creation Matrix from Optimus Prime in order to give life to more Decepticons. The G1 cartoon was inconsistent (as usual ). At times it seemed easy enough to just build Transformers and they'd be alive, like the Dinobots and the brain-hurting contradicting origins of Megatron and the Constructicons... other times it was shown that Vector Sigma was the source of life for Transformers, and they used it to give life to the Aerialbots and Stunticons. But then at other times it seemed that their "brains" (personality components) were the most vital things for TF life, such as the Combaticons. But then Gears seemed to operate just fine with at least part of his personality component missing. Aaahh... where would the G1 cartoon be without its continuity inconsistencies!

"What did you do to Gears, you monster? You turned him... nice!"
- Ironhide, Changing Gears

But essentially the Spark is a Transformer's anima. It's what imbues him/her with life. A brain allows them to think, but not necessarily be alive. Teletraan-1, Zoom-Zoom, BM Vehicons etc. are capable of thoughts (of varying levels) but they aren't actually living entities. They're artificially intelligent, much like droids in Star Wars. A Jedi may risk his/her life to save another living being, but not to save a droid. There's an episode in the Clone Wars when Anakin insists on rescuing Artoo Detoo and Obiwan immediately cautions him about forming material attachments and advises against it. It's only agreed that Artoo needed to be rescued when Anakin confesses that he's never had Artoo's memory wiped, and therefore he carries secret Republic information that they couldn't allow to fall into enemy hands (so thus the missing was really to retrieve the data, rather than to rescue a droid)).

An example of a Cybertronian with a living Spark but with a very primitive mind would be Transmutate. Transmutate suffered significant mental and cognitive impairment because her logic circuits were scrambled beyond repair, giving her childlike immaturity and innocence. The IDW comics also show Sparks being "grown" out of the ground in certain places. These "embryonic" Sparks seem to lack sentience (let alone intelligence), but are portrayed as still being living Sparks.