Human consciousness is a state that defies definition, but which may involve thoughts, sensations, perceptions, moods, emotions, dreams, and an awareness of self, although not necessarily all of these. Consciousness is a point of view, an I, or what Thomas Nagel called the existence of "something that it is like" to be something.

Ned Block divides consciousness into phenomenal consciousness, which is subjective experience itself (being something), and access consciousness, which refers to the availability of information to processing systems in the brain (being conscious of something).

The issue of what consciousness is, and to what extent and in what sense it exists, is the subject of much research in philosophy of mind, psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence. Issues of practical concern include how the presence of consciousness can be assessed in severely ill individuals; to what extent non-humans are self conscious; at what point in fetal development consciousness begins; and whether computers can achieve conscious states.

In common parlance, consciousness denotes being awake and responsive to the environment, in contrast to being asleep or in a coma.

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Author's Bio: 

This definition is part of a series that covers the topic of Energy Healing. The Official Guide to Energy Healing is Annette Colby.

Annette Colby, Ph.D. R.D., is an expert on personal growth and emotional well-being, and the author of Your Highest Potential and Body Redesign. She is a best-selling visionary author, noted public speaker, internationally known consultant, and positive self-leadership educator. Her contagious passion for life is shared in her writing and private practice where she takes people by the hand and teaches them how to fall in love with themselves and create the life of their dreams. For over two decades, she has been committed to showing people how to take the pain out of life, turn difficult emotions into joy, release stress, end emotional eating, and move beyond depression into an extraordinary life!

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