Final answer:
Awareness and arousal are the two main parts of consciousness. Consciousness encompasses both our internal perceptions, such as feelings and thoughts, and our external sensory experiences. The state of arousal is essential for processing information and focusing attention, influenced by internal and external factors, and varying depending on our circadian rhythms and different states such as sleep and wakefulness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Awareness and Arousal
Awareness and arousal are the two main parts of consciousness. Consciousness involves our awareness of internal and external stimuli. Internal stimuli may include bodily sensations such as pain, hunger, thirst, and the recognition of our thoughts and emotions. External stimuli encompass what we perceive through our senses, like seeing sunlight or hearing a friend's voice. Further, arousal is a state that enables our cognitive systems to process new information effectively, thereby focusing our attention on particular stimuli.
The foundation of arousal includes hormones, cognitive processes, and incoming sensory information, which can impact the attention and engagement we have with our surroundings. Cognitive factors such as hunger, fatigue, or the presence of unfamiliar information can significantly influence our state of awareness and attention. Additionally, biological responses like the fight-or-flight reaction also affect our arousal levels.
Consciousness varies throughout the day and is influenced by biological rhythms, particularly circadian rhythms, which can be disrupted leading to issues with sleep and alertness. Experiencing different states such as being awake, asleep, daydreaming, and even altered states due to drugs are all part of the continuity of consciousness. During sleep, various hormones are secreted, which are crucial for learning and memory, and there are different sleep stages that include REM and NREM states, each playing a unique role in cognitive functioning.