Understanding Consciousness (Scientific American Explores Big Ideas)

Consciousness is often regarded as a uniquely human characteristic. It includes emotion, cognition, perception, and self-awareness, and is considered both an essential and mysterious aspect of the human experience. However, some question whether consciousness could be programmed through the use of artificial intelligence. This volume examines what exactly consciousness, what is currently known about it from a neurological perspective, what mysteries still exist in our understanding of consciousness, and what the future of research and technology related to consciousness may hold.