Conscious Experience & Cognitive Ability: A Correlational Analysis

Abstract

Conscious experiences are mysterious and subjective in nature. Recent studies in the field of consciousness suggest that conscious experiences can help in better understanding of feelings, emotions of oneself and others and thus improve the rate of development and quality of life. It may also enhance the emotional and cognitive abilities. Cognitive abilities are related to mental skills and brain based functions which play a vital role in growth and development and are needed to carry out any task from the simplest to the most complex. These have more to do with the mechanisms of how we learn, remember, problem-solve, and pay attention, rather than with any factual knowledge. The present study examines the relationship between conscious experience and cognitive abilities. Consciousness quotient and general mental ability of participants (N=270) were assessed. Pearson’s correlation was used to identify the relationship between conscious experience and cognitive ability. The study also determined the influence of conscious experience in prediction of cognitive abilities using linear regression analysis. The relationship of cognitive ability with different dimensions of the consciousness experience (viz. physical, emotional, self, social-relational, mental, spiritual and inner growth) are discussed.