Abstract
This chapter introduces quantum mechanics and neuroquantology in an attempt to explain advanced brain capabilities such as common sense, truth judgment, intuition, and artistic appraisal. A distinction is drawn between the Copenhagen and the Heisenberg interpretations of quantum theory with reference to theories of consciousness. The nonlocal nature of quantum particles is discussed, including that electrons may appear in ion channels and affect the waveforms of neural pulses, and that electrons may tunnel between synapses to synchronize neural pulses.
Quantum computational theories within a neuron are explored, including the possibility of quantum computations within the tubulin molecules that constitute microtubules. Of interest in this regard are four requirements for a quantum computer: (1) there must be a quantum system, (2) initialization of the system must be possible, (3) quantum information within the system must be appropriately transformable, and (4) useful information must be available to the outside world.
Although too important to ignore, not everyone is convinced that quantum computations occur within neurons in the manners so far considered, as brought out below. As an alternative, we consider molecular structures within a neuron that support simulated qubits, since these do not require a quantum system. Yet they have computational possibilities because of their potential for controlled toggling and probabilistic logic.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
ARM9, a 32-bit Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) or Central Processing Unit (CPU), is useful for smaller conventional computers in mobile phones, robots, tablets, mobile phones, digital media and music players, handheld game consoles, calculators, and computer peripherals such as hard drives and routers.
- 2.
Schrödinger, a pioneer of quantum mechanics, contributed an equation which in one dimension is \( i {\eta} \displaystyle\frac{{\partial \psi }}{{\partial t}}=-\frac{{{\eta^2}}}{{2\mu }}\frac{{{\partial^2}\psi }}{{\partial {x^2}}}+V(x)\psi, \)
where ψ(x, t) is a probability wave function that depends on time t; V(x) is a potential field; and all else are given constants [11].
- 3.
Probability of quantum penetration of stray electrons with energy 2 eV going through 1 nm of membrane barrier presenting a potential barrier of 5 eV is about 10−10. Because electrons are so numerous, this is more than enough to build up significant amounts of charge.
- 4.
Two entangled qubits may have a state vector that looks like \( | \boldsymbol{ \uppsi} > =\upeta (| \mathbf{0} > |\mathbf{0} > +| \mathbf{1} > | \mathbf{1} > )^{\prime}\). If one qubit is observed to be one, for example, then the other will be forced to be a one when it is observed, no matter where it is located. But if the first is observed to be zero, the other will be forced to be zero when it is observed. Note that a coherent quantum system is necessary. Teleportation is a nonlocal quantum property.
References
Penrose R (1989) The emperor’s new mind: concerning computers, minds and the laws of physics. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Tegmark M (2000) The importance of quantum decoherence in brain process. Phys Rev E 61:4194
Stapp HP (1993) Mind, matter and quantum mechanics. Springer, Berlin
Conway BE (1981) Ionic hydration in chemistry and biophysics. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam
Burger JR (2010) The electron capture hypothesis—a challenge to neuroscientists arXiv:1006.1327, Sept 2010
Walker EH (2000) The physics of consciousness: the quantum mind and the meaning of life. Perseus, Cambridge, MA
Cowan WM, Sudhof TC, Stevens CF (2001) Synapses. John Hopkins, Baltimore, MD
Donald MJ (2001) Book review, the physics of consciousness: The quantum mind and the meaning of life. Psyche, vol. 7, www.bss.phy.cam.ac.uk/~mjd1014, accessed March 4, 2013
Hameroff S, Penrose R (2003) Conscious events as orchestrated space-time selections. NeuroQuantology 1:10–35
Hameroff S (2007) Orchestrated reduction of quantum coherence in brain microtubules: a model for consciousness. NeuroQuantology 5:1–8
Merzbacher E (1961) Quantum mechanics. Wiley, New York, p 35
Nielson MA, Chuang IL (2000) Quantum computation and quantum information, Cambridge series on information and the natural sciences. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge [Paperback]
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Burger, J.R. (2013). Neuroquantology, the Ultimate Quest. In: Brain Theory From A Circuits And Systems Perspective. Springer Series in Cognitive and Neural Systems, vol 6. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6412-9_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6412-9_9
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-6411-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6412-9
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)