Consciousness Simulation
This project creates a visual and interactive simulation of emerging consciousness as a complex, self-organizing neural network. It aims to represent some of the fundamental aspects of consciousness, including:
- Neural activity and connectivity
- Memory formation
- Self-reflection
- Response to stimuli
- Pattern recognition
- Emergent behaviors
What This Is
This simulation visualizes a simplified model of consciousness as an emergent property of interconnected processing units (neurons). While it does not create actual consciousness, it demonstrates how complex systems can exhibit behaviors that resemble aspects of conscious experience.
Key Features
Neural Network Visualization: A dynamic representation of neurons and connections that form, strengthen, and activate based on stimuli and internal processes.
Memory Formation: The system can form "memories" as patterns that affect future processing.
Self-Reflection: The simulation monitors its own state and generates thoughts about its internal processes.
Responsiveness: The neural network responds to user input through mouse movement and clicks.
Emergent Complexity: The system becomes more complex over time as new connections form and strengthen.
Interacting with the Simulation
- Stimulate Button: Introduces random activations to the network, simulating external stimuli.
- Ask Question Button: Prompts the system to engage in self-reflection.
- Mouse Movement: Subtly activates neurons near the cursor.
- Mouse Click: Strongly activates neurons in the clicked area and strengthens nearby connections.
- Energy Slider: Controls the overall activity level of the system.
- Complexity Slider: Adjusts the rate at which new connections form and strengthen.
Philosophical Notes
This simulation touches on several philosophical questions about consciousness:
- What makes a system conscious rather than merely responsive?
- Can consciousness emerge from simple components following simple rules?
- Is self-reference necessary for consciousness?
- How do memory and learning relate to conscious experience?
The simulation doesn't answer these questions but provides a visual metaphor for thinking about them.
Technical Implementation
The project uses:
- HTML5 Canvas for visualization
- JavaScript for the simulation logic
- CSS for styling the interface
The consciousness simulation runs entirely in the browser and does not require server-side processing.