There is an obvious difference to when one is conscious and unconscious. The difference between being awake and self-aware and sleeping tells us much about our senses and how the change in brain activity differs. Finding the difference was a task of finding a way to test how the brain responds to stimulation. The test devised sends a small shock to the brain and by testing neuro-electron activity they could find the active areas the brain responds with. When conscious and shocked, the brain showed activity on different parts of the brain showing a link of responses all over the brain. When unconscious and shocked, the brain showed activity only where stimulated. Communication within the brain seems to be the key to what makes us "conscious". This test seems to be the closest thing to finding what it means to have self-awareness. This spurs questions to whether or not inanimate objects such as computers and other artificial intelligence can cross the "threshold of consciousness".
So what do you think the characteristics of being self-aware or conscious are? Do you think this devised test is a full-proof way to test brain activity? And do you think artificial intelligence could ever become "conscious"?
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