What is Consciousness?
'''Consciousness''' means being awake, alert and responsive to the environment.<ref>{{cite book|last=Dorland|first=W.A. Newman|title=Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary|year=1981|url=https://archive.org/details/dorlandsillustra00saun|edition=29th|publisher=WB Saunders}} {{ISBN|0-8089-2186-X}}</ref> The definition of consciousness may differ in [[psychology]], [[neuroscience]], [[philosophy]] and other related sciences. It is often disputed amongst academics and scientists.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Velmans|first=Max|date=2009|title=How to define consciousness - and how not to define consciousness|url=http://cogprints.org/6453/1/How_to_define_consciousness.pdf|journal=Journal of Consciousness Studies|volume=16|issue=5|pages=139–156|via=}}</ref> Consciousness is a [[:wikt:range|range]] of mental states. There are several states between a fully conscious state and a fully unconscious state.<ref>Tart, Charles R. 1975. ''States of consciousness''. NY: Dutton, p51{{ndash}}62.</ref> In [[medicine]], the degree of ''loss of consciousness'' is measured by using [[Glasgow Coma Scale]] (GCS); a score between 3 and 15 is given to each person at any time, to show how conscious he or she is. Higher scores show more conscious states. It seems that many decisions are made without us being aware of it. Some think that these decisions are made by what is called the [[unconscious mind]]. There are also many body functions which we do not notice until they go wrong. These activities are done by the [[autonomic nervous system]]. [[Breathing]] and the beat of one's heart can be noticed but are controlled by nervous system without thought. It is not known what causes consciousness. So, it is difficult to know if another person or thing is indeed conscious.<ref>[http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-doctors-peer-into-the-minds-of-vegetative-patients/ ''How doctors peer into the minds of vegetative patients; communicating with patients who appear to lack consciousness is becoming a reality''] May 2014 issue [[Scientific Ame