Abstract: The invention employs sense element engagement theory to provide a sense element engagement process for producing self-organized patterns of interaction strengths among electronic neurons in an electronic neural network which coordinate with models of patterns of phosphenes experiences and the visual space in which they are located; documented by individuals whose primary visual cortex is stimulated by electric current. The process may be employed for other experiential patterns by substituting desired model patterns for patterns comprising the experience of phosphenes in a visual space. If such experiential patterns are produced, then devices that implement the process can be sentient. Also provided is an understanding of how neural networks produce a specific quality of experience. The phenomena that comprise cortical prosthetic vision (CPV) include two properties: subjective qualities of CPV models can be constructed; and such models can be related to objective aspects of CPV models.

Abstract: The invention employs sense element engagement theory to provide a sense element engagement process for producing self-organized patterns of interaction strengths among electronic neurons in an electronic neural network which coordinate with models of patterns of phosphenes experiences and the visual space in which they are located; documented by individuals whose primary visual cortex is stimulated by electric current. The process may be employed for other experiential patterns by substituting desired model patterns for patterns comprising the experience of phosphenes in a visual space. If such experiential patterns are produced, then devices that implement the process can be sentient. Also provided is an understanding of how neural networks produce a specific quality of experience. The phenomena that comprise cortical prosthetic vision (CPV) include two properties: subjective qualities of CPV models can be constructed; and such models can be related to objective aspects of CPV models.