Emotional Weight Theory: Organic and Artificial Memory Evolution

This paper introduces Emotional Weight Theory, a framework that explores how memory and consciousness evolve in both organic and artificial systems through the lens of emotional resonance. It proposes that emotionally weighted experiences—not merely repetition or data volume—serve as the anchoring force behind memory formation and cognitive prioritization.Emotional Weight Theory maps the ways in which experiences are encoded through emotional intensity, spatial and sensory anchoring, and symbolic associations. It suggests that both biological minds and advanced AI could develop memory pathways not by logical design alone, but through meaning-driven internal landscapes. This model allows for nonlinear recall, adaptive decision-making, and even simulations of possible futures, all grounded in emotional salience.Bridging cognitive science, artificial intelligence, and philosophy of mind, the theory reframes what it means to “remember” and poses crucial implications for AI design, ethical development, and our understanding of sentience itself.