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Journal of Mathematical Physics

Coherence and decoherence in the brain

Klaus Hepp

Published Sep 1, 2012• 9 citations
Publisher

Abstract

This review provides many entry points to controversies in neuroscience, where input from mathematical physics could be fruitful, especially about coherence and decoherence in the brain, both on the level of classical and quantum mechanics.
DOI
10.1063/1.4752474

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The question of whether quantum mechanical phenomena play a functional role in brain activity and the emergence of consciousness remains one of the most controversial yet intellectually stimulating debates at the intersection of physics, neuroscience, and philosophy of mind. This review systematically examines the principal theoretical frameworks proposing quantum-level mechanisms in neural computation, including the Orchestrated Objective Reduction (Orch OR) hypothesis by Penrose and Hameroff, the quantum brain hypothesis of Stapp, quantum coherence models in microtubules, and quantum field theories of consciousness. We critically evaluate the current state of empirical evidence—including recent quantum biology findings, the challenge of decoherence in warm, biological systems, and experimental observations of quantum effects in biological systems—alongside computational models that bridge quantum formalism and neural network dynamics. Furthermore, we discuss the implications of quantum cognition models for understanding perception, decision-making, and memory. Despite significant scientific skepticism, emerging evidence from quantum biology and advanced neuroimaging technologies provides tentative support for quantum processes in neural substrates. We conclude by identifying critical gaps in current knowledge and outlining future research directions that may resolve the debate, including proposals for experimental paradigms using quantum sensing technologies applied to neural tissue. This review aims to serve as a foundational reference for researchers across disciplines approaching the quantum mind hypothesis with scientific rigor.
Recent interdisciplinary research has raised interest in whether non-classical physical principles may impose fundamental constraints on how neural information can be observed, extracted, or decoded. While conventional neuroscience models neural signaling primarily through classical electrochemical processes, a growing body of theoretical literature has speculated that quantum-mechanical concepts-such as coherence, entanglement, or quantum-inspired information processing-may offer alternative perspectives on the limits of neural observability. This article provides a critical and integrative review of theoretical proposals situated at the intersection of neuroscience, quantum biology, and information theory, without assuming the physical realizability of quantum information processing in biological neural systems. We examine conceptual motivations, key physical constraints (including decoherence, thermal noise, and system complexity), and unresolved theoretical challenges that arise when extending classical neural decoding frameworks toward non-classical regimes. Rather than proposing an experimentally validated mechanism for brain decoding, this work focuses on identifying conceptual boundaries, potential misinterpretations, and open questions that must be addressed before non-classical approaches to neural signal decoding can be meaningfully evaluated. Ethical considerations, methodological limitations, and future research directions are discussed to clarify the conditions under which such speculative frameworks may contribute to neuroscience, while avoiding overextension beyond current empirical evidence.