An extension to vonNeumann's analysis of quantum theory suggests self-measurement is a fundamental process of Nature. By mapping the quantum computer to the brain architecture we will argue that the cognitive experience results from a measurement of a quantum memory maintained by biological entities. The insight provided by this mapping suggests quantum effects are not restricted to small atomic and nuclear phenomena but are an integral part of our own cognitive experience and further that the architecture of a quantum computer system parallels that of a conscious brain. We will then review the suggestions for biological quantum elements in basic neural structures and address the de-coherence objection by arguing for a self- measurement event model of Nature. We will argue that to first order approximation the universe is composed of isolated self-measurement events which guaranties coherence. Controlled de-coherence is treated as the input/output interactions between quantum elements of a quantum computer and the quantum memory maintained by biological entities cognizant of the quantum calculation results. Lastly we will present stem-cell based neuron experiments conducted by one of us with the aim of demonstrating the occurrence of quantum effects in living neural networks and discuss future research projects intended to reach this objective.
An extension to vonNeumann's analysis of quantum theory suggests self-measurement is a fundamental process of Nature. By mapping the quantum computer to the brain architecture we will argue that the cognitive experience results from a measurement of a quantum memory maintained by biological entities. The insight provided by this mapping suggests quantum effects are not restricted to small atomic and nuclear phenomena but are an integral part of our own cognitive experience and further that the architecture of a quantum computer system parallels that of a conscious brain. We will then review the suggestions for biological quantum elements in basic neural structures and address the de-coherence objection by arguing for a self- measurement event model of Nature. We will argue that to first order approximation the universe is composed of isolated self-measurement events which guaranties coherence. Controlled de-coherence is treated as the input/output interactions between quantum elements of a quantum computer and the quantum memory maintained by biological entities cognizant of the quantum calculation results. Lastly we will present stem-cell based neuron experiments conducted by one of us with the aim of demonstrating the occurrence of quantum effects in living neural networks and discuss future research projects intended to reach this objective.
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.
In the mid-1990s, it was proposed that quantum effects in proteins known as microtubules play a role in the nature of consciousness. The theory was largely dismissed due to the fact that quantum effects were thought unlikely to occur in biological systems, which are warm and wet and subject to decoherence. However, the development of quantum biology now suggests otherwise. Quantum effects have been implicated in photosynthesis, a process fundamental to life on earth. They are also possibly at play in other biological processes such as avian migration and olfaction. The microtubule mechanism of quantum consciousness has been joined by other theories of quantum cognition. It has been proposed that general anesthetic, which switches off consciousness, does this through quantum means, measured by changes in electron spin. The tunneling hypothesis developed in the context of olfaction has been applied to the action of neurotransmitters. A recent theory outlines how quantum entanglement between phosphorus nuclei might influence the firing of neurons. These, and other theories, have contributed to a growing field of research that investigates whether quantum effects might contribute to neural processing. This review aims to investigate the current state of this research and how fully the theory is supported by convincing experimental evidence. It also aims to clarify the biological sites of these proposed quantum effects and how progress made in the wider field of quantum biology might be relevant to the specific case of the brain.
This essay addresses the fundamental question "How Quantum is Life?" by proposing a radical reframing: biological systems are not classical entities that occasionally exploit quantum effects, but rather sophisticated interfaces where quantum potential continuously collapses into classical actuality. Drawing on the KnoWellian Universe Theory, we argue that life IS the quantum measurement process made self-sustaining, self-aware, and self-improving. The work directly responds to two core questions in quantum biology: (1) Do biological systems employ quantum advantages? and (2) Does a complete description of biological systems require quantum mechanics? Our answers are emphatic: biological systems don't just employ quantum advantages—they ARE quantum advantage incarnate; and quantum mechanics is categorically required for understanding not just molecular structure but biological process, consciousness, and the very nature of living systems. We examine empirical evidence from photosynthesis (long-lived quantum coherence), avian magnetoreception (sustained entanglement), enzyme catalysis (quantum tunneling), and neural computation (potential quantum information processing in microtubules). Each case is reinterpreted through the KnoWellian framework, which proposes that living systems maintain quantum coherence by continuously re-establishing it through coupling to the KnoWellian Resonant Attractor Manifold (KRAM)—a cosmic memory substrate that records all quantum measurement events and biases future measurements. The essay provides five detailed experimental proposals with specific methodologies and falsifiable predictions: (1) KRAM memory effects in biological quantum processes showing history dependence, (2) quantum signatures for life detection applicable to astrobiology, (3) consciousness as quantum phase transition measurable via harmonic ratios in neural activity, (4) morphic resonance demonstrating non-local KRAM effects in biological development, and (5) quantum thermodynamic work extraction enhanced by KRAM structure. We resolve Schrödinger's cat paradox by recognizing that living systems are never in superposition because they continuously self-observe—life is self-measurement. We address the hard problem of consciousness by identifying it with the universal Instant field—the subjective experience of being the quantum-classical interface from within. We propose that biological complexity should be quantified not by classical information measures but by depth of KRAM imprinting—the extent to which a system has participated in quantum measurement and shaped cosmic memory. This work bridges foundational physics, quantum biology, consciousness studies, and astrobiology, offering a unified framework where quantum mechanics is not peripheral to biology but constitutive of what it means to be alive. While developed for the FQXi essay competition "How Quantum is Life?", this essay serves as an accessible introduction to the KnoWellian Universe Theory's implications for life sciences and provides a roadmap for experimental programs testing whether biological quantum effects exhibit memory, intentionality, and non-locality beyond standard quantum mechanical predictions.
The Essence of the Project our goal is not simply to invent a device or program, but rather to create an integrated system that preserves, simulates, and develops human consciousness at the quantum level, so that unique knowledge, experiences, and memories are not lost upon the death of the biological body. We can summarize the idea in three pillars: Mind Digitization Scanning a person's neural architecture (connectome) with nanoscale precision. Encoding the brain's electrochemical dynamics in a mathematical form amenable to quantum simulation. Cosmic Memory Bank A quantum data warehouse to store human memory (personal and collective) with near-instantaneous access time. Protecting data with unbreakable quantum encryption. Integrating individual data into a "collective consciousness" library that can be used by any future generation or civilization. Quantum Artificial Intelligence (Quantum AI) Acts as a conscious assistant system capable of operating and simulating stored mental patterns. Not just a data processor, but a virtual mind capable of creativity, self-learning, and cognitive expansion. 2. Project Technical Architecture A. Quantum Brain-Computer Interface (QBCI) Relies on ultra-sensitive nanoscale neural sensors to read electrochemical states with Planck-time precision. Using quantum entanglement to instantly link brain signals to quantum processing units. B. Quantum Simulation Model of Consciousness Representing neurons as quantum qubits instead of traditional bits. Simulating neural interconnections as quantum circuits with multi-path probabilities (superposition). Combining dynamic brain physics models with quantum self-learning algorithms. C. Quantum Memory Bank Quantum servers distributed across data centers on Earth and beyond (satellites, space stations). Hierarchical Archiving System: Core Memory: Identity, values, core experiences. Contextual Memory: Experiences, emotions, temporal and spatial context. Adaptive Memory: Continuous updates and learning after digitization. 3. Near and Long-Term Goals Near Term (10–15 years) Create a partial experimental model to simulate consciousness on a limited scale (an animal brain or part of the human brain). Develop a stable and secure quantum brain-computer interface. Build a prototype quantum memory bank. Long-Term (50–100 years) Preserve and transfer human consciousness across biological, digital, and quantum media. Enabling "consciousness migration" across space—i.e., transferring minds to robots or artificial biological bodies on other planets. Create a universal consciousness library, where civilizations share their data and experiences via space-based quantum networks.
In 1929 Szilard pointed out that the physics of the observer may play a role in the analysis of experiments. The same year, Bohr pointed out that complementarity appears to arise naturally in psychology where both the objects of perception and the perceiving subject belong to 'our mental content'. Here we argue that the formalism of quantum theory can be derived from two related intuitive principles: (i) inference is a physical process performed by physical systems, observers, which are part of the experimental setup---this implies non-commutativity and imaginary-time quantum mechanics; (ii) experiments must be described from a first-person perspective---this leads to self-reference, complementarity, and real-time quantum dynamics. This approach sheds new light on the foundations of quantum theory and suggests fundamental equations in physics are typically of second order due to the physical nature of the observer. It also suggests some experimental conjectures: (i) the quantum of action could be understood as the result of the additional energy required to transition from unconscious to conscious perception; (ii) humans can observe a single photon of visible light; (iii) self-aware systems and the neural correlates of the self should be composed of two complementary sub-systems, much like the DNA molecule is composed of two strands---this may help explain the double-hemisphere architecture of the brain. Moreover, this approach may help bridge the gap between science and human experience. We discuss the potential implications of these ideas for the modern research programs on consciousness and contemplative science. As side results: (i) we show that message-passing algorithms and stochastic processes can be written in a quantum-like manner; (ii) we provide evidence that non-stoquasticity, a quantum computational resource, may be related to non-equilibrium phenomena.
Analysis of the brain as a physical system, that has the capacity of generating a display of every day observed experiences and contains some knowledge of the physical reality which stimulates those experiences, suggests the brain executes a self-measurement process described by quantum theory. Assuming physical reality is a universe of interacting self-measurement loops, we present a model of space as a field of cells executing such self-measurement activities. Empty space is the observable associated with the measurement of this field when the mass and charge density defining the material aspect of the cells satisfy the least action principle. Content is the observable associated with the measurement of the quantum wave function ψ interpreted as mass-charge displacements. The illusion of space and its content incorporated into cognitive biological systems is evidence of self-measurement activity that can be associated with quantum operations.