In his influential book, The Feeling of What Happens: Body and Emotion in the Making of Consciousness , neuroscientist argues that consciousness is not a separate "ghost in the machine" but a biological process deeply rooted in the body . He contends that our sense of self emerges from the brain's continuous monitoring of the body's internal state as it reacts to the world. Core Concepts and Definitions
For further reading or to purchase the book, retailers like Walmart, Barnes & Noble , and HarperCollins carry various editions. Feeling Our Emotions | Scientific American
: A non-conscious collection of neural patterns that map the body's state from moment to moment. It is the biological foundation required for any higher awareness. The Feeling of What Happens: Body, Emotion and ...
: The mental experience of those physical changes; the point where the brain creates a "map" of the body's reaction.
Damasio distinguishes between three key biological states that build upon one another: In his influential book, The Feeling of What
: Unconscious, automatic physical responses to stimuli (e.g., a racing heart or tensed muscles).
: The "feeling of a feeling," or the moment we become aware that we are the ones having that specific experience. The Three Layers of Self Feeling Our Emotions | Scientific American : A
: A simple sense of "here and now." It occurs when the organism interacts with an object and the brain maps the resulting change in the body.