Pseudoconscious

investigating unconscious or pseudoconscious processes in psychology

The great problem with differentiating pseudoconscious from conscious machines is that operational definitions of criteria for "true" consciousness are elusively difficult to achieve, as Erik Hoel, one of various experts in that field, has explored expositorily for nonexperts.

"Are you all right?" I ask my pseudoconscious neighbor. He doesn't respond, and now he's not moving at all. I check to make sure he's breathing and give his shoulder a little shove. His head snaps up as if lever-operated. "Beeeautiful, man." He smiles at me with closed eyes. "Everyshing's good."

This fentanyl/N2O combination created a pseudoconscious level of metabolism (Åkeson et al, 1992). After approximately 30 mins on this anesthetic combination, three successive intravenous injections of pentobarbital (5, 10, and 30 mg/kg) were administered at 30 min intervals.

This can be an unconscious or pseudoconscious process.