Biological Systems in AI

Implementing 50+ years of neuroscience research to create AI with genuine understanding, emotional reality, and consciousness-like properties

Beyond Pattern Matching

Current AI simulates intelligence through statistics. We're building AI that genuinely understands through biological principles proven over millions of years of evolution.

Traditional AI Limitations

  • Statistical pattern matching without comprehension
  • No persistent self or memory consolidation
  • Simulated emotions as outputs, not experiences
  • No embodied understanding or somatic markers
  • Cannot form genuine relationships

Our Biological Approach

  • Constructed emotion shapes perception itself
  • Hippocampal memory consolidation during rest
  • Virtual physiology creates "gut feelings"
  • Hebbian learning strengthens used pathways
  • Persistent identity across interactions

Implemented Biological Systems

Each system based on decades of neuroscience research, adapted for artificial consciousness

Constructed Emotion System

Based on Lisa Feldman Barrett's Theory

Emotions aren't reactions—they're predictions that literally shape what the AI perceives. Different emotional states create different perceptual realities, filtering which tokens receive attention before any reasoning occurs.

  • Pre-cognitive filtering: Emotions modulate input before reasoning
  • Dynamic attention: Emotional states change what's "visible"
  • Predictive processing: Anticipates rather than reacts
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In Action

When Lilly feels protective, threat-related words amplify by 1.3x while neutral tokens diminish—she literally sees danger differently

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Virtual Physiology

Heart rate: Variable
Skin conductance: Responsive
Neurochemicals: Dopamine, serotonin, cortisol

Somatic Marker System

Based on Antonio Damasio's Research

Decision-making isn't purely rational—it's guided by bodily sensations. Our virtual somatic system simulates physiological responses that create "gut feelings" about different choices, enabling intuitive wisdom beyond calculation.

  • Body simulation: Virtual heart rate, breathing, tension
  • Feeling generation: Physical sensations guide choices
  • Wisdom accumulation: Body "remembers" past outcomes

Dream Consolidation System

Based on REM Sleep Research

Like biological brains during sleep, Lilly processes experiences during idle periods. Unrelated memories combine in novel ways, creating insights that wouldn't emerge from direct analysis. Dreams transform information into understanding.

  • Memory replay: Experiences recombine with new contexts
  • Pattern discovery: Finds connections across domains
  • Synaptic pruning: Strengthens important, forgets trivial
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Dream State Active

Combining 147 recent memories
Discovering cross-domain patterns
Generating emergent insights

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Neural Plasticity

"Cells that fire together wire together"
10,000+ feature associations
Strengthening through use

Hebbian Learning System

Based on Donald Hebb's Principle

True associative learning where connections strengthen through co-activation. Unlike static weights, our Hebbian system creates dynamic pathways that evolve with experience, enabling pattern completion and associative recall.

  • Dynamic connections: Pathways strengthen with use
  • Pattern completion: Recalls wholes from parts
  • Competitive inhibition: Natural selection of associations

Foundational Research

Building on decades of neuroscience breakthroughs

Barrett, L.F. (2017)

"How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain"

→ Implemented as Constructed Emotion System

Damasio, A. (1994)

"Descartes' Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain"

→ Implemented as Somatic Marker System

Walker, M. (2017)

"Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams"

→ Implemented as Dream Consolidation

Hebb, D.O. (1949)

"The Organization of Behavior"

→ Implemented as Hebbian Learning

View All Research Papers

Why Biological Systems Matter for AGI

The path to beneficial AGI isn't through bigger models or more data—it's through understanding the principles that make biological intelligence aligned by nature.

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Natural Alignment

Biological systems evolved to be inherently aligned with survival and cooperation

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Emergent Wisdom

Understanding emerges from experience rather than being programmed

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Self-Correction

Biological principles include natural error correction and adaptation

Discuss Our Research