What Is a State of Consciousness - Assignment Example

Consciousness is a continuous flow of thoughts that creates attentiveness to individuals about their status and that of their environment.  It depends on activities a person’s mind is engaged in and influences a person’s ability to make choices, wellness, and performance. Human attentiveness occurs at three different states which are minimal, moderate, and full alertness. Minimal consciousness is when a person is not aware of personal status or about the environment such as when in a state of coma.

A person falls asleep routinely particular time during the night. The human brain is always active irrespective of whether a person is asleep or awake. Adequate nap gives the brain time to replace cells that were damaged during the normal functioning of the body. The brain also generates information that makes people respond to stimuli such as noise or cries of a child even when asleep (Gordon, State of Consciousness).

In Gordon (State of Consciousness) Children sleep longer time than adults, but the need for sleep in the real sense is similar. What matters is efficiency.  It is always essential for individuals to sleep enough to ensure they function as usual. Different individuals have different requirements hence no standard hours of sleep that can apply to all people. Elder people are disturbed by different factors such as pain in the joints which prevents them from sleeping exhaustively.

According to Gordon (State of Consciousness), Sleep makes the body secrete growth hormones, which makes human beings grow. Lack of sleep results in decreased body activity hence causing obesity and making people lose the ability to concentrate on their activities, hence increasing the probability of accidents. Read More