Final answer:
Wakefulness involves a high degree of sensory awareness, cognitive thought, and responsive behavior, indicative of a complex and alert state of consciousness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Wakefulness is characterized by high levels of sensory awareness, thought, and behavior. This state is part of the spectrum of consciousness where individuals are alert and can respond to external stimuli. While awake, people experience a myriad of conscious states, ranging from alertness to distracted daydreaming.
Extreme focus and selective attention are also part of being awake, such as when a person is driving but not fully aware of the mechanical process due to automatic behavior. High-functioning consciousness is linked to the human neocortex that supports our unique capacities for thought and behavior.
Moreover, states like hypnosis, intoxication, and medically induced unconsciousness show the varying degrees of consciousness and its complexity.