Page "Consciousness" Paragraph 46

In contrast to philosophical definitions, an operational definition can be tested experimentally, and is useful for current research.

A current definition for self awareness, proposed in the 1970s by Gordon Gallup, is known as the mirror test.

An operational definition proposed in 2012 states " consciousness is the sum of the electrical discharges occurring throughout the nervous system of a being at any given instant ".

What many consider consciousness may simply be the personal awareness of all the neurons delivering messages to the mind, but operational consciousness can include all neuronal activity.

Extending this concept to all sentient beings, one can measure a range of consciousness based on how many and how powerfully neurons are actually firing, varying from worms to humans.

One can answer the question, is someone asleep less conscious than someone thinking about a difficult problem.

Although technology does not exist currently to measure this, it can be estimated by determining oxygen consumption by the brain.