Final answer:
While awake, individuals have a clear perception of time and a broad consciousness content. In contrast, sleep involves an altered perception of time and limited content of consciousness, with REM sleep often distorting time perception and focusing the brain inward for processes like dreaming and memory consolidation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Paul is asleep. While asleep, the characteristics of consciousness such as content limitations and perception of time are distinctly different from those during waking consciousness. During normal waking consciousness, an individual experiences high levels of sensory awareness, cognitive processes, and an accurate perception of time passing. On the other hand, sleep is characterized by reduced sensory perception, limited content of consciousness, and an altered perception of time.
During sleep, particularly in stages characterized by Rapid Eye Movement (REM), the person might experience dreams which can lead to a distorted sense of time. Unlike the accurate tracking of time that we have when we are awake, time perception during sleep can be variable - one might feel like only a few moments have passed when, in fact, several hours have gone by. When considering content limitations, the conscious thoughts that are possible when one is awake are greatly reduced in scope during sleep, as the brain's focus turns inward and processes different types of information that may manifest as dreams or be part of memory consolidation processes.