Consciousness has long been a subject of interest in philosophy and religion
but only relatively recently has it become subject to scientific investigation.
Now, more than ever before, we are beginning to understand this mental state.
Developmental psychologists understand when we first develop a sense of self;
neuropsychologists see which parts of the brain activate when we think about
ourselves and which parts of the brain control that awareness. Cognitive
scientists have mapped the circuitry that allows machines to have some form
of self awareness, and neuroscientists investigate similar circuitry in the
human brain.

Research that once was separate inquiries in discreet disciplines is
converging. List serves and small conferences focused on consciousness are
proliferating. New journals have emerged in this field. A huge number of
monographs and edited treatises have recently been published on consciousness,
but there is no recognized entry point to the field, no comprehensive summary.
This encyclopedia is that reference.

Organized alphabetically by topic, coverage encompasses a summary of major
research and scientific thought regarding the nature of consciousness, the
neural circuitry involved, how the brain, body, and world interact, and our
understanding of subjective states. The work includes contributions covering
neuroscience, psychology, philosophy, and artificial intelligence to provide
a comprehensive backdrop to recent and ongoing investigations into the nature
of conscious experience from a philosophical, psychological, and biological
perspective.

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