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Research

Overview and Publications

My research explores the intersections of artificial intelligence, cognitive neuroscience, and consciousness science, centering on embodied intelligence, spatial cognition, and the philosophy of mind. By integrating theories of consciousness with embodied cognition, I aim to bridge cognitive neuroscience and machine learning. This interdisciplinary approach examines how sensorimotor processes and global representations enhance AI, developing systems that reflect human and animal cognition for real-world adaptability. My work also delves into spatial cognition and panpsychism, investigating how embodied interactions shape our understanding of space and self, and highlighting the role of bodily experience in grounding both cognitive functions and philosophical insights into consciousness.

Artificial Intelligence

1Embodied Intelligence

My research integrates consciousness theories and embodied cognition in artificial systems to bridge cognitive neuroscience and machine learning. By modeling sensorimotor processes and global representations, I aim to develop adaptive AI systems that mirror human and animal cognition, enabling more robust and versatile intelligence for real-world environments. 

In Press
Published & In Press

Grimbly, S. J., Kuske, N., Smith, R., Boonstra, E., Bassett, B., Hodson, R., Mahadewa, K., Rosman, B., van Hooff, C., Solms, M., & Shock, J. (in press). Interoceptive attention as dynamic homeostatic prioritization in a foraging agent. In From Animals to Animats 18: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Simulation of Adaptive Behavior (SAB 2026). Springer Nature. Preprint: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2608.04232


Solms, M., Grimbly, S. J., Bassett, B., Boonstra, E., Hodson, R., Kuske, N., Mahadewa, K., Rosman, B., van Hooff, C., & Shock, J. (2026). Inferring affective consciousness in an artificial agent: A case study. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 33(7–8), 14–34. https://doi.org/10.53765/20512201.33.7.014

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Kuske, N., & VanRullen, R. (2026). Consciousness in artificial systems: Bridging global workspace and sensorimotor theory in in-silico models. In V. C. Müller, A. R. Dewey, L. Dung, & G. Löhr (Eds.), Philosophy of artificial intelligence: The state of the art (Synthese Library). Berlin, Germany: Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-10073-3_19

 

Kuske, N., & VanRullen, R. (2025). Sensorimotor affordances in a global latent workspace. In Proceedings of the 8th Annual Conference on Cognitive Computational Neuroscience (CCN 2025). OpenReview.


Kuske, N., & Roehrbein, F. (2024). Habit-inspired methods for embodied intelligence. In IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering (Vol. 1321, No. 1, p. 012002). IOP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/1321/1/012002ublishing.

Cognitive-neuroscience

2 Spatial Cognition

My research investigates how bodily action influences spatial cognition, particularly the formation and use of spatial representations for (mental) navigation. By examining embodied interactions within large-scale environments, we aim to illuminate how sensory-motor processes shape spatial understanding and decision-making.

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In Press
Published

Kuske, N., Clay, V. (2023). Does Bodily Action Shape Spatial Representation? Evidence from Virtual Reality, Sensory Augmentation and Map Learning. bioRxiv, 2023-10. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.10.15.562402

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Kuske, N., Ragni, M., Röhrbein, F., Vitay, J., & Hamker, F. (2022). Demands and potentials of different levels of neuro-cognitive models for human spatial cognition. In, E. Ferstl, L. Konieczny, & R. Stülpnagel (Eds.), Proceedings of KogWiss2022, the 15th Biannual Conference of the German Society for Cognitive Science (pp. 115-116). Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg. https://doi.org/10.6094/UNIFR/229611

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König, S.U., Keshava, A., Clay, V., Rittershofer, K., Kuske, N.,& König, P. (2021). Embodied Spatial Knowledge Acquisition in Immersive Virtual Reality: Comparison to Map Exploration. Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 2, 625548. https://doi.org/10.3389/frvir.2021.625548

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König, S.U., Clay, V., Nolte, D., Duesberg, L., Kuske, N., & König,P. (2019). Learning of spatial properties of a large-scale virtual city with an interactive map. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 13, 240. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2019.00240

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Philosophy of Mind

3 Panpsychism

My research explores the ethical and existential implications of panpsychism, the idea that consciousness or simple phenomenal awareness is a fundamental property of a large class of physical systems including fundamental particles. This view challenges our understanding of moral obligations and personal identity, potentially providing new frameworks for ethical responsibility and fulfilling existential needs traditionally met by religious beliefs.

For all published research see my Google scholar

In Press
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