Researchers have explained the existence of consciousness in humans and animals

Consciousness develops through several forms—basic arousal, general alertness, and reflexive self-awareness. New research has explained why it exists in living beings. This was reported on December 15 by Science Daily magazine.

"In evolutionary terms, basic arousal developed first, with the main function of putting the body into a state of anxiety in life-threatening situations so that the body could stay alive. Pain is an extremely effective tool for perceiving injuries to the body and indicating the associated threat to his future life. This often triggers a survival reaction, such as running away or freezing," explained researcher Albert Newen.

Later, consciousness evolved into the ability to learn and develop attentiveness to environmental cues such as smoke. It helps animals and people to search for important information. According to researcher Carlos Montemayor, this shift in attention allows us to learn about new relationships.

Reflective consciousness, it is claimed, allows you to think about yourself, plan for the future and analyze the past. It is an ability that develops in human society and in some animals such as chimpanzees and dolphins, and helps in social coordination and integration. A simple example of reflective consciousness is recognizing oneself in a mirror.

According to the publication, research by Gianmarco Maldarelli and Onur Gunturkun suggests that birds may also possess basic forms of conscious perception. As it turns out, they respond to stimuli not only automatically, but their brains contain structures that support conscious information processing. According to more recent experiments, birds can also show different forms of self-perception.

Taken together, the data allow us to conclude that consciousness did not arise recently and is not only present in humans. Apparently, it is an ancient and widespread feature of evolution.

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On December 4, Medical Xpress magazine pointed out the similarities between the emotions of animals and children. According to the study, children often refuse to claim that animals have similar thoughts to humans. Scientists have noted that cultural beliefs and life experience shape a person's perception of the capabilities of animals.

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