You equate 'consciousness' with the brain's ability to store long term memories. I'm not sure if that definition fits.
Has anyone been able to determine at what age the brain gains this ability? I have a few vague memories from my early childhood, but I can't remember just how old I was when I experienced them.
"Childhood amnesia" its called. Around 3 is usually when people start to be able to remember anything at all, and then 4.5-5 years your memory becomes more normal. I definitely have at least one memory verifiable from before 4, possibly a few more if I did some sleuthing with people who knew toddler me, but all of them are attached to pretty major life events.
Has anyone been able to determine at what age the brain gains this ability? I have a few vague memories from my early childhood, but I can't remember just how old I was when I experienced them.