Formalisation of Damasio’s theory of emotion, feeling and core consciousness

Abstract

This paper contributes an analysis and formalisation of Damasio's theory on core consciousness. Three important concepts in this theory are 'emotion', 'feeling', and 'feeling a feeling' (or core consciousness). In particular, a simulation model is described of the dynamics of basic mechanisms leading via emotion and feeling to core consciousness, and dynamic properties are formally specified that hold for these dynamics at a more global level. These properties have been automatically checked for the simulation model. Moreover, a formal analysis is made of relevant notions of representation used by Damasio. As part of this analysis, specifications of representation relations have been verified and confirmed against the simulation model.

Distributed Computation using Evolutionary Consciousness : An Approach

“…As a result, the computational modeling of cognitive functions such as, learning, intentionality and consciousness based on neuro-network are conceived [28,29,31]. The computational models of machine consciousness as well as artificial cognitive functions are proposed following artificial neural network and probabilistic reasoning employing Bayesian and hidden Markov models [30,32,34,35,36,37]. Researchers have proposed that, neurobiological and physiological attributes are not the absolute parameters to explain consciousness.…”

On Rationality of Decision Models Incorporating Emotion-Related Valuing and Hebbian Learning

“…To adequately formalise such a theory the hybrid dynamic modelling language LEADSTO has been developed that subsumes qualitative and quantitative causal relationships, and dynamical systems; cf. [4]. This language has been proven successful in a number of contexts, varying from biochemical processes that make up the dynamics of cell behaviour to neurological and cognitive processes; e.g.…”

“…Through either innate design or by learning, we react to most, perhaps all, objects with emotions, however weak, and subsequent feelings, however feeble.' More specifically, in this paper it is assumed that responses in relation to a sensory representation state roughly proceed according to the following causal chain for a body loop (based on elements from [4,7,8]): sensory representation → preparation for bodily response → body state modification → sensing body state → sensory representation of body state → induced feeling…”

Rationality for Adaptive Collective Decision Making Based on Emotion-Related Valuing and Contagion

“…This language has been proven successful in a number of contexts, varying from biochemical processes that make up the dynamics of cell behaviour to neurological and cognitive processes e.g. [4,5]. Within LEADSTO the dynamic property or temporal relation a   D b denotes that when a state property a occurs, then after a certain time delay (which for each relation instance can be specified as any positive real number D), state property b will occur.…”

“…1 for an overview. More specifically, it is assumed that responses in relation to a sensory representation state of a world stimulus w roughly proceed according to the following causal chain for a body loop (based on elements from [4,7,8]): sensory representation  preparation for bodily response  body modification  sensing body state  sensory representation of body state  induced feeling In addition, an as-if body loop uses a direct causal relation preparation for bodily response  sensory representation of body state as a shortcut in the causal chain; cf. [7].…”