Re: [agi] AGI's and emotions

[deering]

Bill, I agree with you that emotions are tied to motivation of behavior in humans.  Humans prefer the experience of some emotions and avoid the experience of others, and therefore generate their behavior to maximize these goals.  I think this is a peculiarly biological situation and need now be replicated in AI's.  I think in AI's we have the design option to base the motivation of behavior on more rational grounds.     Ben, I don't know if my personal definition of emotions will be of much help as it may not be shared by a very large community. but for what it's worth, here it is.   MIKE DEERING'S PERSONAL DEFINITION OF EMOTIONS:  Emotions are a kind of sensory data.  The sensory organ that perceives this data is the conscious mind alone.  The physical reality which generates this raw data are selected concentrations of neurotransmitters in the brain.  Their effects vary with different types of neurons in different locations.  Some types of neurons produce more of certain kinds of neurotransmitter than other types of neurons.  Those that generate the neurotransmitters are not necessarily the same as those that are more affected.  They are also affected by other chemicals produced by glands.  It's complicated.  These neurochemical phenomena are by evolutionary design causally linked to environmental circumstances and divided into positive and negative type.  They are used, by evolutionary design, to positively and negatively reinforce behaviors to maximize and minimize the related circumstances.  Emotions are not products of cognitive processes but are rather perceptions of neurochemical states and states of activation of selected regions of the brain.  Because of the complicated feedback arrangements in the generation of neurotransmitters and hormones, and the neurons role in this feedback, some limited conscious influence can be exercised in the management of emotions.  Emotions can be generated artificially by the introduction of various chemicals to the brain, the direct electrical stimulation of certain neuron clusters, or direct control of environmental circumstances.  Certain physical bodily sensations are closely related to emotions: pain to sadness, pleasure to happiness.     To unsubscribe, change your address, or temporarily deactivate your subscription, please go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/[EMAIL PROTECTED]