Conscious perception is achieved by perceiving what is being processed. Your confusion about the infinite regress is due to you trying to understand it in material terms, but there is nothing in material entities which can define perception - all these entities can do is react to information. You need an entity of perception to perceive these reactions - the reactions do not perceive themselves.
I noticed this from earlier, and you seem to repeat it a lot, that perception is separate from various mental processes. As you say, 'the reactions do not perceive themselves'.
I'm curious what you base this on, as with the discovery of mirror neurons, it seems possible that some animals are able to recognize when another animal is doing an action which is similar to its own. Whether or not this might lead to a 'theory of mind', I don't know.
Now, the full understanding of this is some way off, but it suggests that the brain is able to be self-reflexive, that is, it can construct an image of its 'owner' and his/her role in actions, as well as an image of others. In other words, I can experience myself writing this.
I suggest that the way is open to a full description in neuroscience of self-images, or if you like, self-perception.
