How do I know who I am?

 Is the study of consciousness scientific?
    The study of human consciousness is ever-fascinating, complex and controversial. But how can we define consciousness? I am convinced that there is a scientific component to consciousness, yet there remains a certain sense of individuality that is difficult to explain simply through the scientific method.
     We have “discovered” that specific neurons firing and receiving specific neurotransmitters (in specific neuro-receptors) in various regions of the brain (also specific) cause thought processes, memories, actions and possibly emotions. That our brain (neurons) makes decisions ten-seconds before we are aware (Smith, 2008) and that a vital component of memory includes long term potentiation of neurons. We are learning (slowly) about the inner-workings of the human brain; functioning and how that may influence how we feel and what we do. Yet there is little research concerning the reasons behind why we are conscious. It is even somewhat difficult to find a concurrent definition of human consciousness. What is it that gives us the desire to learn about the physiology of our minds and bodies? Personally, I do not know if we will ever know, although we may get close.
     What I mean is that I do not believe that humans can ever “know” what consciousness is. I believe that we can theorize and support findings concerning consciousness, but science is based upon previous findings, meaning that each new day scientists discover something new or prove a new mechanism. Yet a day, a month, a year after, another scientist may find that another mechanism is actually what is happening (or what retains more convincing evidence). Essentially, the majority of research concerning consciousness seems to be permeable to the scientific method (i.e. the mechanisms of brain function), yet the question as to why we are conscious and how we became so are slightly out of reach (at least for science as it remains presently). The notion of individual experience is also an extremely complex query that may also be difficult for science to explain, yet I do believe that we will try. Science is currently the most common mechanism of viewing the biological world and I believe that we will continue to attempt to explain the “unexplainable” with science. So what am I? Possibly three-quarters reductionist and one quarter mysterian; I am positive my opinions will change as new ideas and theories come to light.

Citation
Smith, Kerri. Brain makes decisions before you even know it. Nature News. April 11, 2008. http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080411/full/news.2008.751.html