If you're really interested in this subject, consider reading The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind by Julian Jaynes. Part of Jaynes' thesis is that the thing we call consciousness is a lot smaller than we think it is, at least as distinguished from mere subjective experience that doesn't quite rise to the level of awareness or consciousness.

It's fascinating to think about, because it raises questions like whether a tree or even a rock experiences subjectivity. If subjective experience doesn't require consciousness, then maybe more things have that experience than we might expect.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Origin_of_Consciousness_in...