ANY understanding of consciousness would lead to models such that individuals could see the specific differences in the consciousness of individuals in some species or individuals. We have no such understanding. No such models. And no such definitions.
Consciousness is inside the brain and not outside the brain. The current rules of science are too narrow to fully examine consciousness since the best data is hidden, from more superficial third person approach of the scientific method.
Say you were playing poker. Each top notch player is self trained to hide their tells. Tells are unconscious body language inductions, such as a touch or twitch, that may happen, involuntarily, but which betrays their intent. They practice in the mirror to control these, so someone on the outside; observers, cannot see. They also cannot read your mind. They are left in the dark even if good observers.
It is what is going I'm their mind, behind the veil, which science cannot see, is place where their consciousness lies. The best data would require asking them to self observe, internally. But not during the game. Science cannot successfully use a purely extroverted approach; only outside data, since people lie, hide and are even unconscious. The best data is missing from that approach.
Personally, I was interested in consciousness, and came to the conclusion that I needed to become both the scientist and the experiment, so I could induce my unconscious mind, and then observe things from the inside. From the outside, I may appear like I am just pondering, but actually my brain was very active as I am observing. You can learn much his way, and begin to unravel how the brain's operating system is set up.
Another analogy is any modern computer has software coding. The input and output interfac; hardware, is like a separate loop, that may not tell you enough about how the software is coded. However, it is that coding that is running the show. I may have software enhanced sound, but you cannot tell which software, based on the fidelity.
Science leaves out the software, since it is internal data and is called subjective. However, if you could go inside the computer and download the software and try to crack the code, you have all types of data that will never show up on the surface. It mostly works seamless behind the scenes, and we only see the tip of the iceberg on the surface.
Consciouness research needs an update in the scientific method to include internal data; coding or archetypes. Consciousness research needs consciousness, as the interface, behind the scenes, which is more than the senses. and body language output.
One of my first analogies for explaining the value of internal data, is having a tooth ache. If you never had a toothache, before, it may not be easy to fully grasp the pain, one with a toothache, feels on the inside. The outside drama; third person, looks bad, but that is not enough to infer full empathy. My approach was sort of like having my good tooth, drilled, and live in the moment of the pain. This data adds another dimension for a more 3-D view, that goes beyond simple sensory cause and effect of the third person. The natural brain output pain to consciousness to make it aware.
A person who is severely depressed, is not always easy to empathize with, since the surface we see does not reflect the inner agony to the point of 100% empathy. But that too is part of the consciousness experience, that science tries to avoid, to stay objective.
The practical problem with the internal approach, relative to the tooth ache pain, is being immerse, will make it harder to concentrate, such that the internal science observer, can become borderline semi-rational, and not as objective as sitting comfortably in the third person unaffected by the consciousness of full empathy. It does take training and hardening. At first you can sense yourself on a pendulum between the two centers of consciousness. Eventually the ego learns to stays objective, while the inner self slowly give up the operating system; archetypes. It may even rewire the ego, to have more access; go deeper and deeper; learn the coding language. It appears to be a natural evolving process led by consciousness in two directions; future direction of consciousness.
On the other hand, if a person is dead, he would not be conscious of anything in him or around him.
