Pacrat

Pacrat is the name of a software agent designed to simulate basic mammalian responses to the environment, as proposed by M. Johnson and R. Scanlon in a 1987 paper titled "Experiences with a Feeling-Thinking Machine". (Proceedings of the IEEE First International Conference on Neural Networks, San Diego, 71-77.)

According to Myles Brandon Bogner: "Pacrat’s actions are driven by eightbrain centers: amygdala, cingulate gyrus, hippocampus, hypothalamus, isocortex, medial forebrain bundle, reticular ascending substance, and the thalamus. These brain centers model the functional relationships between mammalian centers". [http://www.bognerfamily.com/myles/papers/RealizingConsciousnessInSoftwareAgents.pdf]

The architecture is intended to simulate a number of emotional and physical states, including fear, anger/frustration, happiness, curiosity, and hunger. The behavior of the agent is dependent on the interplay of these states.

Pacrat is discussed in the book Artificial Minds by Stan Franklin, where he states that the designers believe it "both thinks and feels". It is compared to Animat, a simpler agent of the same type that is discussed in greater detail.

See also:

Artificial Life