What is consciousness?
Consciousness means being aware of:
Yourself.
Your thoughts.
Your feelings.
Your body.
The people and world around you.
Every day you experience many different things through your consciousness.
Internal Awareness
Internal awareness means noticing what is happening inside your body and mind.
Examples include:
Feeling hungry.
Feeling thirsty.
Feeling pain.
Feeling tired.
Feeling sleepy.
Feeling happy.
Feeling worried.
Thinking about something.
External Awareness
External awareness means noticing what is happening around you.
Examples include:
Seeing the sunshine.
Hearing birds singing.
Feeling warm or cold.
Smelling food cooking.
Listening to a friend talking.
Watching television.
Different States of Consciousness
Your consciousness changes throughout the day.
Some common states include:
π Awake
π΄ Sleepy
π€ Asleep
π Dreaming
☁️ Daydreaming
π Under anaesthetic during an operation
πΊ Intoxicated by alcohol or drugs
These are called states of consciousness.
Consciousness Is Like a Scale
Consciousness is not simply "awake" or "asleep."
Instead, it works more like a scale.
At one end you are:
Fully awake
Alert
Paying attention
At the other end you are:
Deep asleep
Unconscious
Between these are many other levels, such as relaxing, daydreaming or dreaming.
Have You Ever Done This?
Imagine driving home from work or school.
You arrive home and suddenly think:
"I don't really remember the journey."
You were awake.
You drove safely.
But your brain carried out many actions automatically.
This shows that not everything we do needs our full attention.
Biological Rhythms
Your body follows a natural timetable.
This timetable is called a biological rhythm.
Biological rhythms help control:
Sleeping
Waking
Hunger
Body temperature
Hormones
Energy levels
Circadian Rhythm
The most important biological rhythm is called the circadian rhythm.
A circadian rhythm lasts about 24 hours.
It helps control:
When you wake up.
When you feel sleepy.
Your body temperature.
Your hormones.
Your alertness.
Most people:
☀️ Feel awake during the day.
π Feel sleepy at night.
Body Temperature
Your body temperature changes during the day.
Usually:
Lowest in the very early morning.
Rises during the day.
Highest during the afternoon.
Falls again when you sleep.
This is perfectly normal.
Your Body Clock
Inside your brain is a natural clock.
It tells your body:
when to wake up,
when to sleep,
when to release hormones,
and when to feel alert.
This body clock is found in a small part of the brain called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN).
The SCN is inside another part of the brain called the hypothalamus.
What Does the Hypothalamus Do?
The hypothalamus helps keep your body balanced.
This balance is called homeostasis.
Homeostasis means keeping the body working properly.
It helps control:
Body temperature.
Hunger.
Thirst.
Sleep.
Blood pressure.
Hormones.
How Light Helps Your Body Clock
Your eyes detect light.
The information travels to the SCN.
The SCN then tells your body whether it is:
☀️ Daytime
or
π Night-time.
This helps your body know when to stay awake or go to sleep.
Melatonin – The Sleep Hormone
Your brain produces a hormone called melatonin.
Melatonin helps make you feel sleepy.
It is released when it becomes dark.
Bright light reduces melatonin.
This is why using phones, tablets or computers late at night can sometimes make it harder to fall asleep.
Morning People and Night Owls
Not everyone has the same body clock.
Some people are:
π Morning people (Morning Larks)
They:
Wake up early.
Feel energetic in the morning.
Become tired earlier at night.
Others are:
π¦ Night Owls
They:
Prefer staying awake later.
Feel more energetic in the evening.
Often find it harder to wake up early.
Neither type is better.
People's brains simply work differently.
Key Words
Consciousness – Being aware of yourself and the world around you.
Internal awareness – Knowing what is happening inside your body or mind.
External awareness – Knowing what is happening around you.
Biological rhythm – A natural pattern your body follows.
Circadian rhythm – Your body's 24-hour clock.
Hypothalamus – A part of the brain that helps control body functions and keeps the body balanced.
Homeostasis – Keeping the body's internal conditions stable.
Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) – The brain's main body clock.
Melatonin – A hormone that helps you feel sleepy.
Chronotype – Whether someone naturally prefers mornings or evenings.
Remember
Your brain has a natural body clock.
Light helps set this clock.
The clock controls:
Sleep.
Wakefulness.
Hormones.
Body temperature.
Energy levels.
These daily changes are called circadian rhythms and help keep your body healthy.
