The problem with studying consciousness is that no one has come up with anything that approaches a definition of it, or even a description of any consciousness but their own. You can't even prove to another person that you are conscious.

The flying saucer test:

A flying saucer lands nearby. A door opens, and The Thing From Outer Space comes out.

How do you know if it's an intelligent, sentient, feeling alien, or a sophisticated robot, or an intelligent life form which nonetheless is not conscious? How do you find out?