consciência

Consciência is a term used in philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience to refer to the state or quality of awareness, or of being aware of an external object or something within oneself. It encompasses subjective experience, sentience, and the ability to perceive, feel, and think. The nature of consciousness is a complex and long-standing problem, with no single universally accepted definition or explanation.

Philosophical discussions often explore the mind-body problem, questioning how physical processes in the brain give rise to subjective conscious experiences. Different theories attempt to bridge this gap, including dualism, which posits a separation between mind and body, and various forms of monism, which suggest that only one fundamental substance exists, whether material or mental.

In psychology, consciousness is often studied in terms of altered states, such as sleep, dreaming, hypnosis, and the effects of psychoactive substances. Research also investigates the development of consciousness in infants and its potential presence in non-human animals. Cognitive psychology examines the role of consciousness in attention, memory, and decision-making, considering it as a key component of higher-level mental functions.

Neuroscience approaches consciousness by seeking its neural correlates – the specific brain activity associated with conscious experience. Techniques like fMRI and EEG are used to observe brain states during various conscious tasks and conditions. While significant progress has been made in understanding the brain mechanisms underlying awareness, the fundamental question of how subjective experience arises from neural activity remains a profound mystery. The study of consciousness continues to be a vibrant and interdisciplinary field of inquiry.