system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5:What exactly is happening when one is unconscious?
gpt
Typically it's because a grave stress has been or is being endured by the body (getting knocked out by a blow, too much alcohol, etc.), and the body has stopped some of the more energy consuming parts of the brain (frontal cortex) in favour of focusing on the vital functions (heart beat, breathing, etc.). This allows the body more energy to put towards recovery processes to deal with whatever stress has happened or is going on.

Medically induced coma's use this as it shuts down all but the vital functions of the body to focus on recovery.