Consciousness is the awareness of ourselves and our environment—our thoughts, feelings, sensations, and perceptions in the present moment.
Philosophers and psychologists have long debated its nature. Is it a product of the brain alone, or something more? While science has not yet fully solved the “hard problem” of consciousness, research continues to explore its various states (wakefulness, sleep, altered states) and its role in decision-making, learning, and identity formation.