Two of the most profound mysteries outstanding in modern science are quantum theory and the workings of the brain. Quantum theory is already more than 100 years old, but its interpretation remains as enigmatic as ever. In the last 50 years there have been dramatic advances in neuroscience, but we still do not understand how the brain works or how consciousness arises. The Quantum Brain focuses on both of these mysteries and links them in an intriguing and perplexing way. I know of no other popular book that has attempted to cover both subjects, which is what makes this work so interesting.
Much has been written in recent years about the strange features associated with the quantum-mechanical description of nature at the atomic level. Physics teachers should help their students to see that many of these mysterious features are direct results of interpretive principles added to the basic theory of quantum mechanics, and that therefore they may or may not reflect the best possible understanding we can achieve of how nature works at that level. This paper discusses three such principles and their connection to well-known quantum mysteries. The practical significance of distinguishing between quantum mechanics itself and these principles is that it remains possible that other explanatory ideas may be found which lead to less mysterious consequences.