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Related Concept Videos

Understanding the Self01:28

Understanding the Self

The self is a central aspect of human identity, encompassing an individual’s beliefs, emotions, perceptions, and experiences. It is a cognitive and psychological construct that enables individuals to interpret their traits and behaviors, influencing how they perceive themselves and interact with the world. While personality consists of stable and enduring characteristics, the self is shaped by self-perception and social experiences. This distinction highlights the dynamic nature of the self,...
Understanding Consciousness01:23

Understanding Consciousness

Consciousness can be defined as the state of being aware of and able to think about one's existence, sensations, and surroundings. It encompasses two major components: awareness and arousal. Awareness pertains to the recognition of environmental stimuli and internal states. At the same time, arousal refers to the physiological readiness to engage with these stimuli, which varies significantly between states like sleep and wakefulness.
Sleep, a crucial state, is characterized by reduced physical...
Understanding Self-Concept01:20

Understanding Self-Concept

The self-concept encompasses individuals' beliefs about themselves, structured through cognitive frameworks known as self-schemas. These schemas function as mental representations of specific traits or behaviors, influencing how self-relevant information is perceived, processed, and remembered. For example, individuals who are schematic for body weight are more likely to interpret routine experiences—such as dining out or shopping—through the lens of that trait. Conversely, those aschematic for...
Self-Awareness and Its Effects01:21

Self-Awareness and Its Effects

Self-awareness is a psychological state in which the individual becomes the focal point of their attention. This inward focus transforms the self into an object of contemplation and assessment, influencing how individuals perceive their actions and their alignment with personal and societal standards.Triggers and Contexts for Self-AwarenessSelf-awareness can be activated by external stimuli that make individuals visually or audibly aware of themselves, such as mirrors, cameras, or recordings.
Structure of Self01:29

Structure of Self

Sigmund Freud's model of the human psyche is often illustrated using an iceberg analogy. The iceberg's visible tip represents the conscious mind, which includes thoughts and perceptions that individuals are immediately aware of. However, the larger, submerged portion of the iceberg represents the unconscious mind, a reservoir of repressed desires, instincts, and memories. According to Freud, human behavior is primarily shaped by this hidden realm.
Components of the Mind: Id, Ego, and Superego
Self-Schemas02:16

Self-Schemas

In general, a schema is a mental construct consisting of a cluster or collection of related concepts (Bartlett, 1932). There are many different types of schemata, and they all have one thing in common: schemata are a method of organizing information that allows the brain to work more efficiently. When a schema is activated, the brain makes immediate assumptions about the person or object being observed.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae
04:51

A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae

Published on: July 8, 2025

Consciousness and the self.

Michele Di Francesco1

  • 1Research Centre for Experimental and Applied Epistemology, San Raffaele Vita-Salute Univeristy, Milan, Italy. difrancesco.michele@hsr.it

Functional Neurology
|April 1, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Neuroscience is crucial for understanding consciousness, but it alone cannot fully explain human consciousness. A complete theory requires integrating biological, social, and cultural factors for a pluralistic scientific approach.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Philosophy of Mind
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Understanding consciousness is a significant scientific challenge.
  • Neuroscience has made strides in explaining brain functions related to consciousness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the sufficiency of neuroscience alone in fully explaining human consciousness.
  • To argue for a pluralistic approach to the science of consciousness.

Main Methods:

  • Philosophical analysis of existing theories.
  • Conceptual integration of neuroscience with social and cultural factors.

Main Results:

  • Neuroscience alone faces difficulties in explaining the subjective nature of human consciousness.

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Virtual Hand with Ambiguous Movement between the Self and Other Origin: Sense of Ownership and 'Other-Produced' Agency

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Last Updated: Jun 24, 2026

A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae
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Observing the Transformation of Bodily Self-consciousness in the Squeeze-machine Experiment
07:20

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Virtual Hand with Ambiguous Movement between the Self and Other Origin: Sense of Ownership and 'Other-Produced' Agency
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Virtual Hand with Ambiguous Movement between the Self and Other Origin: Sense of Ownership and 'Other-Produced' Agency

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  • A comprehensive understanding necessitates considering biological, social, and cultural dimensions.

    • Conclusions:

    • The science of human consciousness must be intrinsically pluralistic.
    • Explanations of consciousness require a multi-faceted approach beyond neuroscience.