The nature of "internal sensations" of higher brain functions may be derived from the design rules for artificial machines that can produce them

J Biol Eng. 2012 Nov 5;6(1):21. doi: 10.1186/1754-1611-6-21.

Abstract

Modeling various neuronal functions in search of emergent properties may achieve success when the gold standard of replicating the models in physical systems starts exhibiting some of these properties. Since very large number of functions can be modeled and need testing, we suggest an alternate method of examining higher brain functions: seeing them as internal sensations formed from their hypothetical basic units. Here, we explain the need to replicate the natural mechanism using electronic circuits, discuss some of the technical aspects and introduce some concepts for searching for properties of internal sensations evolving from them.