The main problem which this paper tries to address is whether collapse of the wave function describing the state of a quantum mechanical system occurs, or, rather can occur in the brain of the observer or not. One of the first (relatively) detailed “collapse models” following the original abstract suggestion by von Neumann that collapse occurs in the brain of the observer and is related to consciousness, is the Orch OR model of Penrose and Hameroff. This model was first criticized by Tegmark on the ground that due to decoherence, quantum processing cannot occur in the human brain. This criticism was countered by saying that due to structural shielding, microtubules inside the neurons can be protected against the wet and warm environment inside the brain. Thaheld, however, in a number of papers argued that quantum visual information carried by the photons from the environment cannot reach the brain intact. In other words, the quantum states of the photons would collapse inside the human eye and only classical information would finally reach the brain and hence no collapse and quantum processing in the brain can take place. In this paper we advance a hypothesis that there is the possibility for the quantum states of photons to be transmitted to the brain in a quantum-like manner. Our approach is based on the quantum teleportation mechanism which includes both classical and quantum aspects of information transfer, but the process itself is wholly quantum mechanical.
The main problem which this paper tries to address is whether collapse of the wave function describing the state of a quantum mechanical system occurs, or, rather can occur in the brain of the observer or not. One of the first (relatively) detailed “collapse models” following the original abstract suggestion by von Neumann that collapse occurs in the brain of the observer and is related to consciousness, is the Orch OR model of Penrose and Hameroff. This model was first criticized by Tegmark on the ground that due to decoherence, quantum processing cannot occur in the human brain. This criticism was countered by saying that due to structural shielding, microtubules inside the neurons can be protected against the wet and warm environment inside the brain. Thaheld, however, in a number of papers argued that quantum visual information carried by the photons from the environment cannot reach the brain intact. In other words, the quantum states of the photons would collapse inside the human eye and only classical information would finally reach the brain and hence no collapse and quantum processing in the brain can take place. In this paper we advance a hypothesis that there is the possibility for the quantum states of photons to be transmitted to the brain in a quantum-like manner. Our approach is based on the quantum teleportation mechanism which includes both classical and quantum aspects of information transfer, but the process itself is wholly quantum mechanical.
The feasibility of wave function collapse in the human brain has been the subject of vigorous scientific debates since the advent of quantum theory. Scientists like Von Neumann, London, Bauer and Wigner (initially) believed that wave function collapse occurs in the brain or is caused by the mind of the observer. It is a legitimate question to ask how human brain can receive subtle external visual quantum information intact when it must pass through very noisy and complex pathways from the eye to the brain? There are several approaches to investigate information processing in the brain, each of which presents a different set of conclusions. Penrose and Hameroff have hypothesized that there is quantum information processing inside the human brain whose material substrate involves microtubules and consciousness is the result of a collective wavefunction collapse occurring in these structures. Conversely, Tegmark stated that owing to thermal decoherence there cannot be any quantum processing in neurons of the brain and processing in the brain must be classical for cognitive processes. However, Rosa and Faber presented an argument for a middle way which shows that none of the previous authors are completely right and despite the presence of decoherence, it is still possible to consider the brain to be a quantum system. Additionally, Thaheld, has concluded that quantum states of photons do collapse in the human eye and there is no possibility for collapse of visual quantum states in the brain and thus there is no possibility for the quantum state reduction in the brain. In this paper we conclude that if we accept the main essence of the above approaches taken together, each of them can provide a different part of a teleportation mechanism.
One of the answers to the measurement problem in quantum theory is given by the Copenhagen-Interpretation of quantum theory (i.e. orthodox quantum theory) in which the wave function collapse happens in (by) the mind of observer. In fact, at first, great scientists like Von Neumann, London, Bauer and Wigner (initially) believed that the wave function collapse occurs in the brain or is caused by the consciousness of observer. However, this issue has been stayed yet very controversial. In fact, there are many challenging discussions about the survival of quantum effects in microscopic structures of the human brain, which is mainly because of quick decoherence of quantum states due to hot, wet and noisy environment of the brain that forbids long life coherence for brain processing. Nevertheless, there are also several arguments and evidences that emergence of large coherent states is feasible in the brain. In this paper, our approach is based on the latter in which macroscopic quantum states are probable in the human brain. Here, we simulate the delayed luminescence of photons in neurons with a Brassard-like teleportation circuit, i.e. equivalent to the transfer of quantum states of photons through the visual pathways from retina to the visual cortex. Indeed, our simulation considers both classical and quantum mechanical aspects of processing in neurons. As a result and based on our simulation, it is possible for our brain to receive the exact quantum states of photons in the visual cortex to be collapsed by our consciousness, which supports the Copenhagen-Interpretation of measurement problem in quantum theory.
Quantum models of the mind associate consciousness with coherent superposition of states in the brain. Some authors consider consciousness to be the result of a kind of internal quantum measurement process in the brain. In this paper we discuss the ideas of Hameroff-Penrose and Tegmark and their calculation for an estimate of decoherence time. We criticize the Hameroff-Penrose model in the context of a quantum brain model by gravitational collapse orchestrated objective reduction (OOR), assumed by Penrose, and we propose instead that the decoherence process is caused by interaction with the environment. We consider it useful to exploit this possibility because of the growing importance of the decoherence theory in quantum measurement, and also because quantum mechanics can be applied to brain study independently of the Hameroff-Penrose model for mind and consciousness. Our conclusion is that the Hameroff-Penrose model is not compatible with decoherence, but nevertheless the quantum brain can still be considered if we replace gravitational collapse OOR with decoherence. However, our result does not agree with Tegmark's conclusion of refuting not only the Hameroff-Penrose gravitational collapse but also the quantum brain, based on decoherence time calculations in specific cases in the brain. In spite of this fact we also disagree with some points of the response to Tegmark's article given by Hagan, Hameroff, and Tuszynski.
We criticize the Hameroff Penrose model in the context of quantum brain model by gravitational collapse orchestrated objective reduction, orch. OR, assumed by Penrose, and we propose instead that the decoherence process is caused by interaction with the environment. We consider it useful to exploit this possibility because of the growing importance of decoherence theory in quantum measurement, and also because quantum mechanics can be applied to brain study independently of the Hameroff Penrose model for mind and consciousness. Our conclusion is that the Hameroff Penrose model is not compatible with decoherence, but nevertheless quantum brain can still be considered if we replace gravitational collapse orch .OR with decoherence.
Features of consciousness difficult to understand in terms of conventional neuroscience have evoked application of quantum theory, which describes the fundamental behavior of matter and energy. In this paper we propose that aspects of quantum theory (e.g. quantum coherence) and of a newly proposed physical phenomenon of quantum wave function self-collapse(objective reduction: OR -Penrose, 1994) are essential for consciousness, and occur in cytoskeletal microtubules and other structures within each of the brain's neurons. The particular characteristics of microtubules suitable for quantum effects include their crystal-like lattice structure, hollow inner core, organization of cell function and capacity for information processing. We envisage that conformational states of microtubule subunits (tubulins) are coupled to internal quantum events, and cooperatively interact (compute) with other tubulins. We further assume that macroscopic coherent superposition of quantum-coupled tubulin conformational states occurs throughout significant brain volumes and provides the global binding essential to consciousness. We equate the emergence of the microtubule quantum coherence with pre-conscious processing which grows (for up to 500 milliseconds) until the mass-energy difference among the separated states of tubulins reaches a threshold related to quantum gravity. According to the arguments for OR put forth in Penrose (1994), superpositioned states each have their own space-time geometries. When the degree of coherent mass-energy difference leads to sufficient separation of space-time geometry, the system must choose and decay (reduce, collapse) to a single universe state. In this way, a transient superposition of slightly differing space-time geometries persists until an abrupt quantum classical reduction occurs. Unlike the random, subjective reduction(SR, or R) of standard quantum theory caused by observation or environmental entanglement, the OR we propose in microtubules is a self-collapse and it results in particular patterns of microtubule-tubulin conformational states that regulate neuronal activities including synaptic functions. Possibilities and probabilities for post-reduction tubulin states are influenced by factors including attachments of microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) acting as nodeswhich tune and orchestratethe quantum oscillations. We thus term the self-tuning OR process in microtubules orchestrated objective reduction(B>Orch OR, and calculate an estimate for the number of tubulins (and neurons) whose coherence for relevant time periods (e.g. 500 milliseconds) will elicit Orch OR. In providing a connection among 1) pre-conscious to conscious transition, 2) fundamental space-time notions, 3) non-computability, and 4) binding of various (time scale and spatial) reductions into an instantaneous event (conscious now, we believe Orch OR in brain microtubules is the most specific and plausible model for consciousness yet proposed.
Potential features of quantum computation could explain enigmatic aspects of consciousness. The Penrose—Hameroff model (orchestrated objective reduction: ‘Orch OR’) suggests that quantum superposition and a form of quantum computation occur in microtubules—cylindrical protein lattices of the cell cytoskeleton within the brain's neurons. Microtubules couple to and regulate neural–level synaptic functions, and they may be ideal quantum computers because of dynamical lattice structure, quantum–level subunit states and intermittent isolation from environmental interactions. In addition to its biological setting, the Orch OR proposal differs in an essential way from technologically envisioned quantum computers in which collapse, or reduction to classical output states, is caused by environmental decoherence (hence introducing randomness). In the Orch OR proposal, reduction of microtubule quantum superposition to classical output states occurs by an objective factor: Roger Penrose's quantum gravity threshold stemming from instability in Planck–scale separations (superpositions) in spacetime geometry. Output states following Penrose's objective reduction are neither totally deterministic nor random, but influenced by a non–computable factor ingrained in fundamental spacetime. Taking a modern pan–psychist view in which protoconscious experience and Platonic values are embedded in Planck–scale spin networks, the Orch OR model portrays consciousness as brain activities linked to fundamental ripples in spacetime geometry.