A Yale study has shed new light on how the brain creates awareness of our own actions, resolving a debate that began more than 130 years ago. Researchers found that awareness depends on multiple brain signals, including activity involved in planning movement and processing sensory feedback after an action. Neither signal worked alone, suggesting that both conscious intention and sensory perception contribute to our awareness of what we do. The study also found that reduced alertness, reflected by shrinking pupil size, was linked to declining awareness. Researchers suggest that being unaware of some actions may be a normal and useful feature that helps everyday activities run smoothly.
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