Definitionv1
Somatic marker: a bodily sensation associated with emotional
Somatic marker: a bodily sensation associated with emotional outcomes of similar past experiences that serves as a pre-conscious signal organizing attention toward what matters and away from what does not, functioning as a cognitive system's way of encoding accumulated experience into fast significance assessment
Why This Is a Definition
This definition identifies 'somatic marker' as a specific type of bodily sensation, places it within the genus of cognitive systems' responses, and specifies its differentia as encoding accumulated experience into fast significance assessment. It clearly distinguishes it from mere physical sensation by its function in organizing attention and decision-making. The definition uses precise terminology consistent with Damasio's somatic marker hypothesis and connects it to the broader concept of emotional charge.