AI and the Neurobiology of Consciousness
Chandni Kumar, Tom McClelland
Journal of Student Research May 31, 2023 DOI: 10.47611/jsrhs.v12i2.4283 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that determining whether AI and brain-computer interfaces affect human consciousness requires first understanding what makes a human conscious, and proposes the claustrum as a model for AI systems that process information as humans do. Raises the possibility of extended consciousness as a question for examination. |
Abstract
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a method used to teach machines to process and experience data/information the way humans do. The claustrum, the cellular unit of the nervous system that communicates with the body through electrical patterns, is an excellent model for AI when trying to derive consciousness. It has been used as a model for neural networks to teach machines to process, experience, and process information the way people do. This paper discusses the need to understand what makes a human conscious in order to determine if an inorganic addition affects this consciousness in the face of innovations such as neural implants and other brain-computer interface technologies that aim to merge the human brain and computers. It is important to examine the impact AI has on the conscious mind and the possibility of extended consciousness.