Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
The conscious level includes everything we are aware of at any given moment - our perceptions, thoughts, feelings and memories that we can readily access and examine.
This is part of short-term memory that holds and manipulates information for cognitive tasks. It's like the GPS system in our car (conscious mind) guiding us through tasks.
This term refers to awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes. Like a driver knowing their driving habits, metacognition involves being aware of how you think and learn.