That's exactly what I've thought about the swapping consciousnesses ... It's not like you can be 2 consciousnesses to compare in the same body; in the switch there would be no difference. This makes me question exactly what it is!

Part of me thinks it's only a phenomenon of the physical brain but then I think what if something could be perfectly duplicated down to the most fundamental sub atomic level. Duplicate an inanimate object and we have no problem with the idea that the duplicate is in every way identical to the original. Duplicate a person and what becomes of the consciousness? I would think they would be separate and diverge from that point of duplication, with the duplicate having all the memories etc of the original, and also assuming they are the original. But they would be separate. Maybe consciousness is inherent to instances of matter itself and linked in some hidden way like time is to space. I mean... I'm waffling now, but it's mind boggling to think about

Your life would definitely be different ... But would it even be you at all? Would your internal thoughts and preferences, even intelligence be the same as they are now? Really interesting to think about.

Does anyone feel like consciousness isn't really a thing in itself? Like it's a necessary illusion created in the brain in order to be aware and accept information?

I was chatting recently with a friend about consciousness and the sense of self. I suggested that if we could go back in time to when he was born, and he was transported somewhere else, to another country and raised by a different family then maybe it would be the equivalent of a completely different person and consciousness (basically the same as if a different baby was born). It wouldn't be 'him growing up somewhere else', it would literally be an entirely different 'consciousness' and sense of self operating in that body.

It is amazing that when matter in the universe is left for long enough, it eventually creates a self aware object that wants to study itself and everything around it. What a crazy ride reality is.