The science of consciousness – Basics, models, and visions

•Functions related to conscious perceptions are reflected in the event-related potentials of the EEG.•The mental observer might be regarded as an internal reference observing an internal mental representation.•Observation is a reduced but meaningful excerpt of the mental representation.•The basic values of humanity can be derived from the properties of subjective experience or observation.•Consequently, a science of consciousness has to consider the impact of subjective qualities on health.