Matter and mind differ in that the observation of the former requires senses and the latter cannot be observed by senses. One’s thoughts or experiences cannot be seen, heard, etc., by oneself or by others, nor can they be accessed by any material instruments; one’s thoughts are not known to others unless one conveys them verbally or by other physical means. If we call the content of all our conscious experience as information, we may say that matter is accessible to senses and that information is not. Interestingly, today’s quantum theory seems to assert that matter is made of information, because according to quantum mechanics, all matter is composed of quantum particles, which are packets of de Broglie’s phase waves each of which is essentially a mathematical concept; the phase wave is supposed to have a speed greater than that of light in vacuum and the phase wave is not observable although its wavelength can be measured in suitably designed experiments. Again interestingly, similar theme is found in the ancient Indian philosophy, Sankhya, which says that gross elements (equivalent to matter and space) are made of subtle potential abilities of sensory perception called tanmatras.
Matter and mind differ in that the observation of the former requires senses and the latter cannot be observed by senses. One’s thoughts or experiences cannot be seen, heard, etc., by oneself or by others, nor can they be accessed by any material instruments; one’s thoughts are not known to others unless one conveys them verbally or by other physical means. If we call the content of all our conscious experience as information, we may say that matter is accessible to senses and that information is not. Interestingly, today’s quantum theory seems to assert that matter is made of information, because according to quantum mechanics, all matter is composed of quantum particles, which are packets of de Broglie’s phase waves each of which is essentially a mathematical concept; the phase wave is supposed to have a speed greater than that of light in vacuum and the phase wave is not observable although its wavelength can be measured in suitably designed experiments. Again interestingly, similar theme is found in the ancient Indian philosophy, Sankhya, which says that gross elements (equivalent to matter and space) are made of subtle potential abilities of sensory perception called tanmatras.
Quantum phenomena seem to blur the distinction between matter and information, and objectivity and subjectivity. A quantum particle cannot be observed directly and needs to be 'observed' in a suitably designed measurement experiment. Even in such an experiment, what we actually observe (by means of senses) is the measuring device, which is said to be ‘classical’. The position and other 'observable' properties of a quantum particle (QP) are only inferred from the devices’ readings. Quantum Mechanics tells us that a QP is a packet of de Broglie's phase waves, each of which carries no energy and goes faster than light. Clearly, the phase wave is a mathematical abstraction, an idea in physicists' minds; it cannot be observed for example, like light, or heard like a wave of an oscillating string. However, the phase wave’s wavelength can be measured in a suitably designed experiment. So, one may call the de Broglie phase wave as a piece of ‘objective information’! Since classical matter, i.e., matter which is observable directly by senses is supposed to be made of numerous QPs also, it seems that all matter is made of ‘objective information’, i.e., information, which is not observable directly but some of whose properties can be measured and verified in some way and agreed upon by a group of people. Considering the brain to be a quantum system, we will explain why a sensory experience is both objective and subjective at the same time whereas other conscious experiences such as those of emotions and judgments are subjective but not objective. For this purpose, we note the neuroscience finding that it is necessary and sufficient that one’s brain (a quantum system) builds a neural record which is a faithful representation of the sensory input it receives from the outside world, for one to have the corresponding conscious sensory experience.
In the late 21th century, the concept of Quantum Consciousness arose, joining theories and concepts from the disciplines of Philosophy, Neuropsychology, and Quantum Physics. The Preface of Mind, Matter, and Quantum Mechanics (Henry P. Stapp. 1993) states, “Nature appears to be composed of two completely different kinds of things; rock-like things and idea-like things. The first is epitomized by an enduring rock, the second by a fleeting thought. A rock can be experienced by many of us together, while a thought seems to be long to one of us alone” (Stapp, 1993 p. vii). Stapp refers to the mind-body problem, not as a problem, but as a connection; the mind-body connection. Descartes believed the mind and body could be separate and act separately. Stapp embellishes Descartes philosophy of “I think, therefore I am” through Quantum Physics by connecting the mind to the body; calling it the mind-body connection. Stapp states that nature is composed of two different things, rock-like things and idea-like things. I believe that rock-like things and idea-like things do not differ, but are one and the same. This paper explores the philosophies of Descartes, the contents of a thought and the ways in which neuropsychology and Quantum Physics help illuminate the question: do thoughts contain matter?
The mind–matter relationship remained in the domain of philosophers for aeons. However, the inquisitiveness of the scientific minds has always been trying to understand the science behind its various functions. The scientific temper ushered in by the Renaissance about the 15th century saw the scientists exploring this problem from a science point of view. Technological advances during the later part of the 20th century enabled neuroscientists to explore and localise functions of the brain. However, the most difficult has been understanding the origin of a conscious experience scientifically or materialistically. Despite the delineation of many functions of the brain, the origin of conscious experience, the qualia, in the material brain remains elusive, so much so it came to be called the holy grail of neuroscience. Heisenberg wrote: ‘Physics entered the domain of philosophy with the emergence of consciousness in quantum observation, which incidentally opened the door for reconciliation of science and philosophy’,[1] an event which enabled the predictions of Snow of the merging of arts and sciences.[2,3] Quantum mechanics is a branch of physics relating to very small particles – subatomic particles – electrons, photons, and everything in the submolecular realm, being the smallest units in matter. Quantum theory is the most fundamental theory of matter available at present. Some basic concepts of quantum physics need to be understood. These include “superposition”, where in subatomic particles exist either as waves or particles in a dual nature, never simultaneously. They exist as waves in more than one place at a time and once an observer observes or interferes with (such as measuring) their superposition state collapses to particle state. Quantum entanglement is the phenomenon that occurs when a group of particles which are generated, interact with or share special proximity such that they remain connected even when separated by vast distances. Consciousness is a manifestation of quantum process. Q mind or Q consciousness comprises a group of hypotheses proposing that quantum mechanical phenomena such as entanglement and superposition may play an important part in the functions of the brain and could thus explain the origin of consciousness. Several theories of quantum consciousness have been proposed. Wigner proposed the idea that quantum mechanics has something to do with the workings of the mind and proposed that the wave function collapse in the interaction with conscious observation creates consciousness.[4] Vitiello and Freeman[5] proposed quantum field theory (QFT) of brain states. This theory deals with systems and provides formal elements from which a standard description of brain activity can be inferred. According to QFT, particles are only excited states or simply manifestations of a field. Every particle has its own field that covers all of the universe, which means that, according to QFT, all of the electrons of the universe belong to the same field and could be regarded as one. Bohm formulated the QFT as a deeper theory of quantum theory plus relativity.[6] He viewed mind and matter as projections into our explicate order underlying the implicate order. Quantum brain dynamics (QBD) hypothesis explains the function of the brain within the framework of QFT.[7] It is not yet known exactly how quantum superpositions and their collapse result in the genesis of the raw feels of consciousness, the qualia. Feynman stated ‘if you think you understand quantum mechanics then you do not!’[8] Pribram proposed the holonomic brain theory (quantum holography). He invoked quantum mechanics to explain the higher-order processing by the mind. Pribram provided evidence on how much of the processes in the brain take place in a distributed fashion.[9,10] The composite model of Pribram-Bohm of holoflux hypothesis addresses observed phenomenon of non-locality both spacially and temporally. Bose and Einstein, who first predicted Bose Einstein condensate proposed that water at dendritic membrane surfaces might operate by structuring condensation,[11] supporting QBD. Penrose and Hamoreff proposed the orchestrated-objective reduction (ORCH-OR) in 1989 through 2013. According to them, the microtubules in the neurons (neurotubules), the tubulin protein polymer at the site of quantum collapse, leads to conscious experience. The quantum superposed states which develop in the tubulins remain coherent and recruit more superposed tubulins until a mass-time-energy threshold is reached. At this point, self-collapse or objective reduction occurs, which is equated to a discrete conscious event. Cascades of ORCH-OR events give rise to the stream of consciousness.[12,13] Penrose suggested that objective reduction represents neither randomness nor algorithmic processing but instead a non-computable influence in spacetime geometry from which mathematical understanding and, by later extension, consciousness derives.[14] Quantum vibrations in the microtubules proposed by Bandyopadhyay[15] have been shown to be source of conscious experience by corroborating the Penrose-Hemeroff’s ORCH-OR hypothesis.[13,16] In April 2022, the results of two related experiments at the University of Alberta and Princeton University, announced at The Science of Consciousness conference, provided further evidence to support quantum processes operating within microtubules. However, in another experiment, Gregory D. Scholes and Aarat Kalra of Princeton University used lasers to excite molecules within tubulins, causing a prolonged excitation to diffuse through microtubules further than expected, which did not occur when repeated under anaesthesia.[17,18] Beck and Eccles considered quantum mechanics at the synaptic level. If Orchestrated objective reduction (ORCH-OR) theory is applicable, a similar phenomenon in the microtubules at the presynaptic level, the axon terminal could be invoked for the genesis of consciousness.[19] A recent study by scientists at Trinity College, Dublin, in October 2022,[20] suggests that quantum processes underlie the cognitive and conscious brain functions. The brain–mind operational architectonics is the boundary between and integration point of quantum physics and eastern metaphysics and that it may inspire building a richer and more inclusive paradigm of the brain–mind relation, where quantum physics and eastern metaphysics are inherently intertwined. A body of empirical evidence[21-24] supports these possibilities, strengthening the proposal that the mind–brain relationship may be partially quantum. Quantum information theory clarifies the distinction between the unobservable mind and the observable brain and supports a solid physical foundation for consciousness research. With all these theories trying to explain and understand the theoretical/hypothetical framework for consciousness to explain the subjective experience of consciousness, the experts of this field feel it is still a long way to bridge the gap between current neurobiological and physical–mathematical concepts with their associated quantum–mind theories. Though there is still a long way to go for explaining conscious experience scientifically, when ever this happens, it will become one of the benchmarks in science. Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest. Use of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted technology for manuscript preparation The authors confirm that there was no use of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted technology for assisting in the preparation of the manuscript and no images were manipulated using AI.
Abstract Properties of de Broglie waves and their differences from any other waves, for example, electromagnetic, are discussed. Their little-known properties are given: 1) the propagation velocity is greater than the speed of light V > c ; 2) dispersion even in vacuum (waves of different frequencies propagate at different speeds, which results in the spreading of any wave packets associated with the particles); 3) the connection of the de Broglie wave with another physical wave moving with a speed v less than the speed of light, but so always v · V = c 2, and for the photons v = V = c. According to later views of de Broglie, this second wave is not the group wave. Possible mechanisms of generating the de Broglie waves based on spherical and cylindrical hollow quantum resonators, which can be specially created in matter using specific nanostructures are considered. Perhaps their nature itself realizes them for any micro-objects, regardless of their electrical, magnetic and gravitational properties. That is, this phenomenon is universal. Applications and realizations of this idea are discussed in the part II of our article.
The wave-particle duality of photons, as hypothesized by Einstein, was well accepted by the early 1920's. De Broglie's bold hypothesis in 1924, that all matter likewise has a wave-particle duality added further fuel to the fire in the development of Quantum Mechanics. It seared into the minds of physicists the wave-particle duality of Nature. Needless to say, this counter intuitive and bold assertion mystified the World beyond any sensible comprehension by common sense. The question often asked by ordinary people is what is the matter with de Broglie waves? We provide just this answer and demystify this 'matter' in this short paper.
The fundamental question in this manuscript is: “Is it possible to build matter out of Light (confined electromagnetic waves)?” To answer this question we first have to answer the question how we have come to this world of Probability Waves and Elementary Particles and Quantum Physics. Louis de Broglie described in 1924 in his PhD thesis the wave properties of matter. Erwin Schrödinger published in 1926 the well-known Schrödinger wave equation with the characteristic spherical and elliptical wave solutions. To describe these material waves, the immediately and first explanation was: “There is only one possibility. These are “electromagnetic waves”. De Broglie waves are ” Light Waves”. Because these were the only waves, known in the world of Physics. But there was a fundamental problem. These material waves, discovered by Louis de Broglie and mathematically described by Erwin Schrödinger could never be solutions of the well-known 4 equations of James Clerk Maxwell. The material waves were spherical and elliptical solutions and that was impossible for the solutions of the Maxwell Equations. According to the Maxwell Equations, light always travels along a straight path. A second problem was that the model of the atom of Bohr could not hold. How could an electron be everywhere at the same time in a kind of a spherical shell surrounding the nucleus. And be a particle at the same time. And Bohr found a compromise to declare the “De Broglie” waves to be the probability waves. Two problems were solved. Bohr’s planetary model could hold. And there was a name for the unknown material waves, discovered by Louis de Broglie and mathematically described by Erwin Schrödinger. The theory of “Probability Waves, Elementary Particles and Quantum Physics” had been created. To find a possibility, to create matter out of light we have to go back to the Equations of James Clerk Maxwell. The only possibility to declare the probability waves, discovered by Louis de Broglie, to be electromagnetic waves, to be light, and to be the building element of our universe, is to find evidence that he Maxwell Equations are not complete and that it is possible to confine light (electromagnetic waves) in spherical and elliptical shapes. A new equation has to be found. In this article it has been claimed that this missing equation is equation (5). Because the Theory of General Relativity has been built on the Einstein-Maxwell Equation, a new equation has to be found that describes in a generalized way the interaction between light and matter. This missing equation is equation (5-a).