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Are Human Brains Quantum Computers? Why Quantum Cognition Says Yes

Shan Gao

Published Aug 2, 2019• 1 citation
OpenAlex

Abstract

Based on the PBR theorem about the reality of the wave function, we show that the wave function assigned to a cognitive system, which is used to calculate probabilities of thoughts/judgment outcomes in quantum cognitive models, is a representation of the cognitive state of the system. In short, quantum cognition implies quantum minds. Furthermore, the principle of psychophysical supervenience requires that a quantum mind must supervene on a quantum brain.

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Based on the PBR theorem about the reality of the wave function, we show that the wave function assigned to a cognitive system, which is used to calculate probabilities of thoughts/judgment outcomes in quantum cognitive models, is a representation of the cognitive state of the system. In short, quantum cognition implies quantum minds. Furthermore, the principle of psychophysical supervenience requires that a quantum mind must supervene on a quantum brain.
Based on the PBR theorem about the reality of the wave function, we show that the wave function assigned to a cognitive system, which is used to calculate probabilities of thoughts/judgment outcomes in quantum cognition, is a real representation of the cognitive state of the system. In short, quantum cognition implies quantum minds. However, this result does not mean that we have quantum minds and our brain is a quantum computer, since quantum cognition by its standard formulation has not been fully confirmed by experiments. We hope that more crucial experiments can be done in the near future to determine whether or not quantum cognition is real.
Recent years have witnessed rapidly increasing interests in developing quantum theoretical models of human cognition. Quantum mechanisms have been taken seriously to describe how the mind reasons and decides. Papers in this special issue report the newest results in the field. Here we discuss why the two levels of commitment, treating the human brain as a quantum computer and merely adopting abstract quantum probability principles to model human cognition, should be integrated. We speculate that quantum cognition models gain greater modeling power due to a richer representation scheme.
Clues from psychology indicate that human cognition are not only based on classical probability theory as explained by Kolmogorov’s axioms but additionally on quantum probability. Quantum probabilities lead to the conclusion that our brain adapted to the Everett many-worlds reality trough the evolutionary process. The Everett many-worlds theory views reality as a many-branched tree in which every possible quantum outcome is realized. In this context, one of the cognitive brain functions is to provide a causally consistent explanation of events to maintain self-identity over time. Causality is related to a meaningful explanation. For impossible explanations, causality does not exist, and the identity of the self breaks. Only in meaningful causal worlds may personal identities exist.
Quantum consciousness concerns both the possible role that quantum mechanics has for understanding consciousness as well as the role that consciousness has for interpreting quantum physics. Quantum brain theories hypothesize that quantum physical processes occur within and between the neurons of the brain and have important effects on cognition as well as consciousness. Quantum cognition is a growing new field in cognitive science concerned with the application of the mathematical principles of quantum theory to human judgment and decision-making behaviour. What do all these theories have to do with each other? Quantum theories of consciousness have more to say about quantum physics than cognitive psychology and conscious experiences. Quantum brain theories have not been sufficiently ‘scaled up’ to provide clear implications for how quantum physical processes generate more complex cognition. Quantum cognition theories have avoided addressing fundamental issues about consciousness and have remained agnostic with respect to the quantum brain hypothesis. This article will address the problem of connecting these ideas together by connecting quantum cognition to the other two topics.
Quantum consciousness concerns both the possible role that quantum mechanicshas for understanding consciousness as well as the role that consciousnesshas for interpreting quantum physics. Quantum brain theorieshypothesize that quantum physical processes occur within and between theneurons of the brain and have important effects on cognition as well as consciousness.Quantum cognition is a growing new field in cognitive scienceconcerned with the application of the mathematical principles of quantumtheory to human judgment and decision-making behavior. What do all thesetheories have to do with each other? Quantum theories of consciousness havemore to say about quantum physics than cognitive psychology and consciousexperiences. Quantum brain theories have not been sufficiently “scaled up”to provide clear implications for how quantum physical processes generatemore complex cognition. Quantum cognition theories have avoided addressingfundamental issues about consciousness and have remained agnostic withrespect to the quantum brain hypothesis. This article will address the problemof connecting these ideas together by connecting quantum cognition tothe other two topics.
Quantum consciousness concerns both the possible role that quantum mechanicshas for understanding consciousness as well as the role that consciousnesshas for interpreting quantum physics. Quantum brain theorieshypothesize that quantum physical processes occur within and between theneurons of the brain and have important effects on cognition as well as consciousness.Quantum cognition is a growing new field in cognitive scienceconcerned with the application of the mathematical principles of quantumtheory to human judgment and decision-making behavior. What do all thesetheories have to do with each other? Quantum theories of consciousness havemore to say about quantum physics than cognitive psychology and consciousexperiences. Quantum brain theories have not been sufficiently “scaled up”to provide clear implications for how quantum physical processes generatemore complex cognition. Quantum cognition theories have avoided addressingfundamental issues about consciousness and have remained agnostic withrespect to the quantum brain hypothesis. This article will address the problemof connecting these ideas together by connecting quantum cognition tothe other two topics.