Thus, in brief, in order: the proto-self is the unconscious control system that allows the body homeostasis. Core consciousness is the result of representations of proto-self causally related to an object, and is limited to this. Associated with long-term memory, core consciousness becomes the expanded consciousness and allows understanding the past and anticipating the future.
Damasio also distinguishes emotions and feelings. Emotions are changes in the state of the body; feelings are the mental representation of the changes. Consciousness is in fact under own sense of self. Damasio also criticizes the classical theories that consciousness requires a verbal language: meaning exists before words.
These are the main points of a coherent theory and less complex than it seems. Unfortunately Damasio poorly targeted audience and seems to be addressed to both amateurs and professionals. If the explanations are clear enough, the examples are either obvious when it comes to experiences or patients, often abstruse when the author enters the anatomy and physiology of the brain. More schemes have been helpful.
This theory of consciousness serious, constructive and now unavoidable in his field, however, is the attention it requires.
