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The Conversation
The Conversation
Peter Coppola, Visiting Researcher, Cambridge Neuroscience, University of Cambridge

How individual consciousness works – and makes us unique

Benjavisa Ruangvaree Art

As we go through life, our brains run different processing modes. Some – the attention and sensory systems – result in very similar experiences of the world: what colour the sky is, how warm the day feels.

But there is another, deeper side to the brain which weaves together your memories, goals, beliefs and emotions into a continuous sense of self. This allows you to experience the world not as it is, but as it matters to you personally.

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