AccScience Publishing / AIH / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/aih.5690
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REVIEW ARTICLE

A review of neuroscience-inspired frameworks for machine consciousness

Seyed-Ali Sadegh-Zadeh1* ,  Mahboobe Bahrami2
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1 Department of Computing, School of Digital, Technologies and Arts, University of Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
2 Behavioral Sciences Research Center, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
AIH, 5690 https://doi.org/10.36922/aih.5690
Received: 29 October 2024 | Revised: 10 March 2025 | Accepted: 28 March 2025 | Published online: 4 June 2025
© 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
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Abstract

Consciousness in humans is a state of awareness that encompasses both the self and the external environment, emerging from the intricate interplay of cortical and subcortical brain structures and neurotransmitter systems. The possibility that machines could possess consciousness has sparked ongoing debate. Proponents of strong artificial intelligence (AI) equate programmed computational processes with cognitive states, while advocates of weak AI argue that machines merely simulate thought without attaining genuine consciousness. This review critically examines neuroscience-inspired frameworks for artificial consciousness, exploring their alignment with prevailing theories of human consciousness. We investigate the fundamental cognitive functions associated with consciousness, including memory, awareness, prediction, learning, and experience, and their relevance to artificial systems. By analyzing neuroscience-based approaches to artificial consciousness, we identify key challenges and opportunities in the pursuit of machines capable of mimicking conscious states. Although present AI systems demonstrate advanced capabilities in intelligence and cognition, they fall short of achieving genuine consciousness, as defined in the context of human awareness. We discuss both the theoretical underpinnings and practical implications of creating artificial consciousness, addressing both weak and strong AI perspectives. Furthermore, we highlight the ethical and philosophical concerns that arise with the potential realization of machine consciousness. Our objective is to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the literature, fostering a deeper understanding of the interdisciplinary challenges involved in artificial consciousness and guiding future research directions.

Keywords
Machine brain
Cortical
Subcortical
Weak artificial intelligence
Strong artificial intelligence
Human consciousness
Machine consciousness
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare they have no competing interests.
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