Mind, Machine and Consciousness

Tanjina Thakur1,a) and Vir Singh Rangra 2,b)

1
Department of Computer Science, HP University, Shimla, 171005, India
2
Department of Physics, HP University, Shimla, 171005, India

Keywords: Consciousness, Artificial neuron, Deep learning, MoNAD-artificial neural circuit.

Abstract:
In computer science, consciousness broadly can be divided into two parts, weak (artificial)
consciousness and strong (artificial) consciousness. Weak consciousness is also known as
cognitive process which is attained by learning or behavior learning process. Strong
consciousness is related to phenomenal or subjective experience. According to this model,
consciousness is the discrete events take place in our nerve cells which is tested experimentally
on some Chinese Buddhists. Quantitatively, it is measured as one thought per 20ms (50Hz). So
its synoptic computation in brain cell (neuron).This computation idea of consciousness
confirmed by McCulleh who proposed an artificial neuron which is capable of learning self
organized behavior. In early age non-neural (neurons) software programming computations are
used which can hardly handle cognitive consciousness, but nowadays these self organized
artificial neural base logic devices realized strong consciousness at physical level. By including
different layers of artificial neuron as same pattern as in our brain, the reinforcement learning
(learning by feedback) and unsupervised (self organized conscious machine) learning become
possible. It’s also referred as deep learning. Deep learning based voice recognition android
system; IBM Watson Computer is already available in market to help doctor for giving
suggestions. Now emotional computer (Sentient computer) is on the way.

According to “World Scientific: International Journal of Machine Consciousness.

DOI[10.1142/S1793843013500030]”, the MoNAD – artificial neural network circuit is tested
experimentally on three test robots and found expected response from test robots as self aware
conscious agent. Finally we can say that we are in a position to make artificial brain or
consciousness through neural network, in order to embed deep learning in the system in near
future by digital computation work. According to this model, consciousness is the cognitive
ability, regenerated through programming and learning of artificial neurons so it’s the product of
matter and not the cause of matter. Because of the bounded system of an agent’s body, the
consciousness produced here is singular or limited. It is not pervasive but confined up to the
boundary of the system. It is not substratum but property holder due to specific computations in
neural network. Consciousness is a computational constituent of mind. According to this model,
mind and consciousness are identical. Consciousness is changing according to digital
computations in neural network. Consciousness plays a crucial role in knowledge gain and
knowledge process though it’s not knowledge itself.
Introduction:
Consciousness definite to the word “awareness” includes subjective, phenomenal experiences of
external world and accordingly our responses to them in terms of self awareness or sense of self,
feeling, choice, control, internally generated images and geometric patterns (e.g. when we close
our eyes, or meditate).[1] Consciousness is also been taken under the concern of being a
sequence of discrete moments, ”Specious present, the short duration of which we are
immediately and incessantly sensible ”according to William James[2], he call it a continual
stream of consciousness though he was vague about duration. The theory of Stroud [3],
“Perceptual moment” described consciousness as a series of discrete moments or events. When
we go deep towards consciousness state we found it as a sequence of discrete events in
Buddhism, trained meditating monks find it as a “flickering” in their experience of subtle, pure
form of awareness. Buddhist scriptures has been sanctify the consciousness and termed it as
“momentary collections of mental phenomena” and “distinct unconnected and impermanent
moments that perish as they arise”, even we found the frequency of conscious moments in their
writings. Such as Sarvaastivaadins[4]described 6,48,000 “moments” in 24 hours( one “moment”
per 13.3ms, 75 Hz, approximately).and some Chinese Buddhists as one “thought” per
20ms,50Hz. According to modern science the Gamma synchrony electro-encephalography
(EEG) is the best measureable suspect to consciousness.30 to 90 Hz coherent neuronal
membrane activities occurring across various synchronized brain regions.

Building a artificial Brain

Simple programmed computing and A.I is different in some sense. One has to be feed computer
with information and rules which required programmer to laboriously right software. It takes
time and cannot deal with ambiguous data. On the other hand A.I based on artificial neural
network in enforcement deep learning and unsupervised learning can even deal with wide range
of varieties of data because of self internal learning or training process between neural networks.
We can simulate different types of complex neural networks which are capable to recognize
small pictorial data. With help of quantum computer we are capable to simulate the large
numbers of complex neural networks with faster speed and greater efficiency. In the
development of such neural networks Hilton developed a more efficient way to teach an
individual layer of neural network during 2006. Team led by Stanford computer science Prof.
Andrew. N. and Google fellow shown that the deep learning artificial neural network is capable
to recognize image of a cat among ten million images shown to it as input.

Consciousness and digital computing

Deep learning software attempt to mimic the activity of biological neurons present in the
neocortex where 80% of the brain thinking occurs. The software are made to learn in a very real
sense to recognize a patterns in digital representation of sound, images and other data. The basic
idea that software can simulate the neocortex large array of neurons in artificial neural networks.
With help of advance super computer and quantum computer we can add many more layers of
virtual neurons and simulate their data. With help of super computer and quantum computer we
are able to recognize the speech and images. Deep learning based
Machine consciousness and Deep learning
Deep learning which termed to learns the behavior and according responses in
machines, through producing the artificial layered neural circuits that simulates
approximately the functioning of the brain neurons which produce the intelligence and
conscious experiences in human being. The concept of “Neural network “has arrived in
existence, a half decade before (around 1950’s) which is to replicate the brain’s
neuronal activities and structure artificially and termed it further as “Artificial neural
network”. The simulated neocortex’s large array of layered artificial neurons learns to
recognize patterns in digital representation of sounds, images and other data.
References:

[1] Stuart Hameroff, Roger Penrose(2013) .Consciousness in the universe A review of

the ‘Orch OR ’ theory .

[2] Woolf NJ, Hammerhoff SR.A quantum approach to visual consciousness. Trends
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[3] VanRullen R, Koch C. Is perception discrete or conscious? Trends Cogn sci 2003;
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[4] Antonio Chella, Riccardo Manzotti (2007). Artificial Intelligence and

Consciousness.

[5] Toshiyoki Takiguchi, Atsushi Mizunaga and Junichi Takeno. A Study of self –
Awareness in Robot.International Journal of Machine Consciousness Vol. 5.No.2(2013)
145-164.