Understanding Confoundment

While attending a philosophy lecture, Justin found himself in a state of cogitation as the professor posed challenging questions about the nature of consciousness. Justin appreciated the depth of the discussion, but he also felt a twinge of confusion as the concepts began to intertwine with one another. He wondered if others in the room were experiencing a similar sense of confoundment or if they were more adept at grasping the material.

In this context, the word confoundment most nearly means: