Redefining Consciousness Across Species

The concept of consciousness may extend beyond complex beings like humans and monkeys to simpler organisms such as nematode worms. Research suggests that nematodes, which have only about 310 neurons, display behaviors that challenge the notion that consciousness requires a large brain with advanced structures. By studying consciousness in these simpler creatures, scientists might discover fundamental aspects of conscious experience that are overlooked when focusing only on higher vertebrates. This paradigm shift could lead to a better understanding of consciousness as a widespread phenomenon in the animal kingdom.