[Vmysobfi]

what about minds that have been impaired or limited by neural pathway damage?

I suppose the same applies. The point I was making is that consciousness isn't something that is specifically built into the system, but is simply the natural result of the brain doing what the brain does: process information. A consequence of this is that the precise nature of the consciousness will depend on the precise way the brain works. Thus, brain impaired individuals will have a consciousness that is altered in a way that depends on the specific nature of the brain impairment. I don't think that a brain impairment could turn a person into a philosophical zombie.