machine consciousness

1. functions simulated by computers or robots as a way of modeling and investigating the behavioral, cognitive, and neural components of human consciousness.

2. an artificial system (e.g., robot) constructed to have phenomenal consciousness (called artificial consciousness).

3. broadly, the entire interdisciplinary research effort behind both aforementioned senses, involving such areas as artificial intelligence, robotics, computer science, cybernetics, cognitive science, cognitive psychology, philosophy of mind, and neuroscience. See also Chinese Room argument; Turing test.

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Psychology term of the day

January 31st 2025

somatosensory system

the parts of the nervous system that serve perception of touch, vibration, pain, temperature, and position (see somatosense). Nerve fibers from receptors for these senses enter the dorsal roots of the spinal cord and ascend mainly through tracts in the dorsal columns to the ventroposterior nuclei of the thalamus, from which they are relayed (directly or indirectly) to the somatosensory areas of the parietal cortex. Also called somatic sensory system.