Larni writes:
But our consciousness resides in the biological substrate of our brain, which appears to need a refractory period to keep it going. This means that it the biology that needs to have a break.
Our consciousness is bound within our biology.
I wonder. I have to admit that I’m of the school of thought that thinks our consciousness is responsible for our biology. I see the brain has having evolved but consciousness existing somehow apart. However even if that is correct, what you said about the brain needing a refractory period makes more sense than what I suggested in my previous post.
Larni writes:
Our brain is just as active when we sleep but it does a different kind of activity. The wave lengths of our brain waves change but it's still very active.
Adenosine builds up in the body when we are awake and lowers when we sleep. From this we could conclude that this build up acts to signal sleep and that this evolved because sleep is very beneficial to the organism fitness.
I have a hunch you know a great deal more about this than I do and a quick look at wiki confirmed this.
As I’ve said before, this is a great place to learn.
Thanks