Which state relates to processes that remain below the threshold of awareness?

The concept of nonconscious processes refers to mental activities that occur without our awareness. These processes happen below the level of conscious thought and include automatic actions and bodily functions that we do not consciously control or think about, such as breathing or driving a car on "auto-pilot." Nonconscious processes also encompass unconscious memories and learned skills that we may not actively think about but can be utilized when needed.

The terms related to consciousness often have specific meanings: conscious processes are those that we are fully aware of; preconscious thoughts are those that are not currently in the forefront of awareness but can be retrieved easily; and unconscious processes involve deeper layers of thought that may influence behavior but are not accessible to our immediate awareness. Nonconscious processes sit distinctly below all this, functioning without any direct awareness at all.