Consciousness once seemed like a complete mystery—its puzzles beyond the reach of science. But as you’ve seen in this chapter, things look different today. Researchers have made substantial progress in solving the scientific puzzles consciousness presents.

This progress comes from research conducted at different levels of analysis. Careful study of the mind is required to avoid the pitfalls of the homunculus problem. Cutting-edge brain-imaging methods are needed to identify the interconnected neural systems required for conscious experience.

Not all the puzzles of consciousness are solved, however. Science still lacks a complete understanding of how the physical matter of the brain gives rise to the subjective experiences of consciousness. For any of you considering a scientific career in this field, this gives you something challenging to work on!

Chapter Review Now that you have completed this chapter, be sure to turn to Appendix B, where you will find a Chapter Summary that is useful for reviewing what you have learned about consciousness.