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Quantum Statistical Theory of Quantum Cognition

Elio Conte

Published Sep 1, 2016• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

In quantum mechanics a wave function is connected to a quantum system. This abstract entity represents a description of the quantum state of this system. The wave function is a complex-valued probability amplitude and the probabilities for the possible results of measurements made on the system can be derived from it . In the present paper it is demonstrated that the tentative often adopted from scholars to attribute a wave function as representation of a mental state in current quantum cognition studies cannot be accepted. A mental state is a so complex structure , depending contextually at each instant from a so complex structure of inner and subjective elements and psychological and neurological components, to exclude its representation by a simple and elementary wave function, The mental state may be represented by a quantum wave function that, owing of the complex structure of the mental state, has an intrinsic indetermination and fluctuation of the basic probability amplitudes to respond to the basic notion of intrinsecally , incompletely specified system that was introduced by P. T. Landsberg in 1961. As consequence a simple quantum wave function cannot be adopted and instead an averaging statistical formulation is absolutely required. Therefore, the subsequent quantum statistical theory is formulated.

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In quantum mechanics a wave function is connected to a quantum system. This abstract entity represents a description of the quantum state of this system. The wave function is a complex-valued probability amplitude and the probabilities for the possible results of measurements made on the system can be derived from it . In the present paper it is demonstrated that the tentative often adopted from scholars to attribute a wave function as representation of a mental state in current quantum cognition studies cannot be accepted. A mental state is a so complex structure , depending contextually at each instant from a so complex structure of inner and subjective elements and psychological and neurological components, to exclude its representation by a simple and elementary wave function, The mental state may be represented by a quantum wave function that, owing of the complex structure of the mental state, has an intrinsic indetermination and fluctuation of the basic probability amplitudes to respond to the basic notion of intrinsecally , incompletely specified system that was introduced by P. T. Landsberg in 1961. As consequence a simple quantum wave function cannot be adopted and instead an averaging statistical formulation is absolutely required. Therefore, the subsequent quantum statistical theory is formulated.
Quantum probability fields are involved during processing of human perception and cognition with a wave function that mathematically is articulated in a proper Hilbert space and conceptually represents the space of all the potential alternatives at a semantic and semiotic level. Each subject has developed a unique mind within his/her correspondent context, hence his/her own wave function requires to be displayed as a complex-valued probability amplitude. Reaction time as well as the time of observation / decision / measurement also represent important variables contributing to our cognitive response and having also proper neurological correlates. Mind is a so complex abstract entity so that we can certainly retain that, generally speaking, the observer and the observed system enter in the domain of what technically are considered to be un-complete specified systems . An elementary wave function remains insufficient to represent a mental state, whereas a quantum wave function, which exhibits intrinsic indetermination and fluctuation of the basic probability amplitudes, may be implemented. In this paper, along with von Neumann’s postulate for non-existing dispersion-free ensembles, a new quantum statistical approach is elaborated to elucidate the peculiar quantum mechanical feature of the context dependent dynamics of human cognitive conceptual processing. In the framework of the present quantum statistical elaboration we introduce for the first time the possibility of using the Pareto distribution as a probability density function. This result links quantum statistical mechanics with the science of complexity .
We consider transition from the classical statistical model to the quantum statistical model through ignorance (of huge volume) of information in process of construction of a wave function { a complex probability amplitude. Our approach clarifles relation between classical and quantum statistical models (and hence relation between classical and quantum information theories). In particular, it can be considered as a step toward demystiflcation of quantum theory. The notion of context (complex of physical conditions) is basic in this paper. We show that the main structures of quantum theory (interference of probabilities, Born's rule, complex probabilistic amplitudes, Hilbert state space, representation of observables by operators) are present in a latent form in the classical Kolmogorov probability model. However, this model should be considered as a calculus of contextual probabilities.In our approach it is forbidden to consider abstract context independent probabilities: \flrst context and then probability. In this way we obtain interference of probabilities without to appeal to the Hilbert space formalism or wave mechanics. Our formalism can be applied to various domains outside quantum physics, e.g., cognitive sci- ences, psychology, economics, chemistry: roughly speaking in any domain in that it is impossible to extract the whole information about an ontic (or to say realistic) model and hence the epis- temological (experimental or to say observational) model is constructed through huge reduction of information volume. We introduced a notion of prespace { space of states containing complete information about systems under consideration. Classical phase space and quantum Hilbert space are obtained as projections of such a prespace.
Experimental results presented in this paper supports the hypothesis on quantum-like statistical behaviour of cognitive systems (at least human beings). Our quantum-like approach gives the possibility to represent mental states by Hilbert space vectors (complex amplitudes). Such a representation induces huge reduction of information about a mental state. We realize an approach that has no direct relation with reductionist quantum models and we are not interested in statistical behavior of micro systems forming the macro system of the brain. We describe only probabilistic features of cognitive measurements. Our quantum-like approach describes statistics of measurements of cognitive systems with the aim to ascertain if cognitive systems behave as quantum-like systems where here quantum-like cognitive behavior means that cognitive systems result to be very sensitive to changes of the context with regard to the complex of the mental conditions.
Experimental results presented in this paper supports the hypothesis on quantum-like statistical behaviour of cognitive systems (at least human beings). Our quantum-like approach gives the possibility to represent mental states by Hilbert space vectors (complex amplitudes). Such a representation induces huge reduction of information about a mental state. We realize an approach that has no direct relation with reductionist quantum models and we are not interested in statistical behavior of micro systems forming the macro system of the brain. We describe only probabilistic features of cognitive measurements. Our quantum-like approach describes statistics of measurements of cognitive systems with the aim to ascertain if cognitive systems behave as quantum-like systems where here quantum-like cognitive behavior means that cognitive systems result to be very sensitive to changes of the context with regard to the complex of the mental conditions.
The aim of such paper is to explain in detail the foundations of quantum cognition and to evidence the manner in which our pioneering experiments on quantum interference in humans should be correctly interpreted in the framework of a correct quantum mechanical elaboration. Often, studies on quantum cognition are elaborated from some authors evidencing that presently we have empirical evidence that the application of quantum rules gives better results respect to classical ones. Consequently, such studies are delineated as empirical tentative. It is not true. Quantum cognition is a scientific realization structured about robust quantum foundations and this is the reason because it gives such important results. Consequently, we discuss the evidence to correctly explain the foundations of this emerging discipline. In order to reach this objective we analyze the fundamental role of the abstract entity that is called quantum mechanical wave function. Soon after we describe the manner in which quantum operators must be entered in cognition studies by using the projectors that represent logic statements and thus relate directly our cognitive functions. We also discuss in detail the logical origins of quantum mechanics outlining that it does not represent a physical theory looking at the matter at microscopic level but a God Giano two faces looking simultaneously to material and to mental reality. We also discuss results establishing the nature of our consciousness and the unquestionable result that it obeys to the basic rules of quantum mechanics. We also give a further and pressing indication: in quantum cognition studies the quantum wave function must be intended as reconstructed experimentally a posteriori in our cognitive studies and cannot be confused with the standard examining elaboration that is used in usual textbooks of quantum mechanics. Also the question of the order effect is analyzed in detail using the important notion of reaction time of psychology. In substance, we give a total reformulation of the current quantum cognition studies evidencing that previous elaborations finalized to present the current status of this discipline as empirical tentative to characterize a quantum cognitive modelling result to be only approximate, incorrect and confusing prospects that damage the information about the robust structure of quantum cognition and therefore need to be rejected.
My discussion is articulated under the neurological as well as the psychological profile. I insist in particular on the view that mental events arise in analogy with quantum probability fields. I review some results obtained on quantum cognition discussing in detail those that we obtained on quantum interference in mental states during perception-cognition in ambiguous figures. Frequently, I use the approach to quantum mechanics by Clifford algebra. I insist in particular on two recent results. The first is the justification that I obtain of the von Neumann postulate on quantum measurement and the second relates my Clifford demonstration on the logical origins of quantum mechanics and thus on the arising feature that quantum mechanics relates conceptual entities. The whole discussion aims me to support the conclusion that we think in a quantum probabilistic manner.