1. Only certain animals with highly complex and connected brain networks can be conscious, including all mammals and some birds. 2. Everything that arises in the mind or body comes from the dynamics of brain states interacting with each other, not between brain and mind. 3. As brains evolved and enlarged over time, the range of possible brain states and associated mental states expanded, allowing for richer conscious experiences and creativity. However, consciousness remains profoundly mysterious and difficult to explain through normal scientific means alone.