Protoself

In biological psychology, the protoself describes a basic level of awareness biologically available to the nervous system of animals.

The concept was popularized by a neurology department chairman from University of Iowa College of Medicine. Antonio Damasio theorized the protoself of humans is facilitated in the human brain by brainstem nuclei, the hypothalamus, insular cortices, cortical area S2, and the medial parietal cortices

Reference:

Damasio, A. (2000). The Feeling of What Happens: Body, Emotion and the Making of Consciousness. Vintage, London.