Artus, there's still a problem of definitions between us in this discussion. I have realized this but I can't tell if you have.
Also, before I move on, I'm not sure if this is the case but it seems you might be underestimating my understanding of the brain. I have taken Neuroscience as a graduate so when you mention "higher brain functions" I do know what you are talking about better than you do. I honestly don't mean to gloat or put you down. Just saying to make you sure this is not an issue of me not understanding brain anatomy or function and so you don't end up repeating explanations or anything.
Now for definitions, I'll try a diagram.
stimulus -> nerve ->[[processing in brain]] ->nerves -> response [facial expression, emotive expressions, crying with tears, laughter, verbaly declaring their pain, etc.]
I DO NOT CALL ANY OF THESE THE SOUL. These are the material aspects which I referred to that I was isolating OUT of the definition. These are all material aspects. The soul is where results of processing would be sent - aside from the nerves. This is the diagram with the soul:
[soul]
^
I
stimulus -> nerve ->[[processing in brain]] ->nerves -> response [facial expression, emotive expressions, crying with tears, laughter, verbaly declaring their pain, etc.]
[Note the single direction of the arrow to the soul - it's one way only.] You may now refer to my previous posts on how one would know the soul exists in their own case.
[QUOTE="Atrus"]Awareness is a higher brain function that we can now detect in other primates. As a thinking being you need to be aware of input as a method of the decision making process, such as making a difference between severe burns and freezes. Even though the body sends the signals, the body is not going to take care of itself until you are aware of it to think cognitively about the appropriate way to deal with the situation. Siddiqui
No, you do not. You do not have to be aware of input any more than a computer needs to be aware of input in order to take action. The input only neads to be processed. The awareness you are referring to is simply the processing of the nerve signals into appropriate responses. I am not referring to this as the soul.
You're awareness is a higher brain function that allows us to create and choose for our own survival advantage. That it hurts is just a signal. Awareness tells us the relative intensity so we can determine what is the problem and the severity.Atrus
It is the processing that determines the nature and severity of the threat based on the input received. It also the processing that determines which response would best ensure survival. These responses include but are not limited to [facial expression, emotive expressions, crying with tears, laughter, verbaly declaring their pain, etc.]
A person without a soul would 'feel' the same when they are unconscious as they 'feel' when they are awake - they wouldn't feel. They would simply process and act as a "normal, lively, expressive human body does." They would feel no different from how a robot would feel [even a fully expressive one that expresses every single emotional behavioral response humans do in the same situations.]
So, then, your definition of the soul would mean being self-aware? As you said, this is not a state we have when we sleep, and involuntary actions can continue whilst we sleep. But if the data processed in the brain is stored in another location as well as being stored in the brain, how is it that when an individual suffers memory loss they still show it? If the soul exists as another data storage, wouldn't the person continue to have the information after the brain is damaged, or is the soul a kind of RAM? 
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