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Learning is an emergent property of a system, but it can still be programmed. Since emotion is simply a learned reaction, it too can have algorithms designed to simulate it. Like the OP asks, how do you define consciousness? Being aware of and able to manipulate your surroundings? Robots are better at this than us! Does that make them more conscious? If you define it as having a sense of self, they can do that as well. And it cannot be emotions, since there are conscious/sentient beings that do not feel emotions (as far as we know)..
Additionally, why would you need to simulate neuronal activity? Binary calculation and conventional OOP can achieve this in exactly the same way. Neuron activity is strictly controlled by the chemicals present, ala neurotransmitters. In the same way, some of the methods (areas of the brain) can be limited by the credentials (chemicals) presented to the security algorithm. I don't think consciousness is a strictly human phenomenon at all..
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"I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel
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