The Quantum Biology of Consciousness and Visual Perception

Abstract

Recently, there has been a lot of interest in the subject of consciousness and its quantum biology properties. Here, we discuss the role of the eye as an important source and participant, in the process of consciousness, and the quantum biology of consciousness. We have discussed the quantum biology of the retina in a process of phototransduction and transfer of information to the brain in the previous chapters. However, we will discuss the role of Müller cells in retina as it participates and facilitates the photon transfer in the inverted retinal thickness. The input of visual information has been recognized as the first step or first “wave” of initiation of the 3-wave processing of consciousness.

The possible link between biology and quantum mechanics as first suggested by Schrödinger in his book “What is Life” has revolutionized the world and created the new field of quantum biology. Quantum biology could explain the process of photon harvesting and electron transfer, different states of excitation and relaxation of electrons, emission of photons, and the generation of ultraweak photon emission (UPE) in the neurons. Also, generation of biophotons, and possibly the process of complex neuronal activity and ultimately the consciousness.

What brings all the chapters of this book together is the suggestion that the quantum effects may underlie the magnetic field effects on the microtubule dynamics. It is the similar mechanism behind magnetoreception in animals, the circadian clocks, Xenon-induced general anesthesia, and the Lithium effect on mania. So here, the old expression “All roads lead to Rome” can be replaced by “All roads to “neuron quantum Biology” lead to “Tryptophan” since it is the Tryptophan molecules that works like an antenna and transfer the electrons and biophotons for a quantum biological task. Due to the fact that all anesthesia-inducing molecules and psychedelic drugs affect tryptophan molecules embedded in tubulin proteins, which are the building blocks of microtubules in neurons, points to the crucial role of this protein in consciousness.

Quantum entanglement may also play a crucial role in brain function and consciousness, particularly the photoemission of singlet oxygen that serves as a quantum messenger to establish long-distance connections that might be essential for consciousness. The role of radical pairs in reorganization of microtubules and generation of biophotons are well recognized, and is an important part in neuronal function, and as the result, the brain function and consciousness.

The fundamental task of the brain as consciousness, is to orchestrate the multiple parallel external events via sensory inputs, combined with the internal cognitive processing to obtain a stable perception of the environment. This is mainly dependent on the perception of conscious sensory experience based on rhythmic sampling of information most effectively by visual input. The process of quantum vision will be discussed with special focus on major components of quantum energy generation in the eye and its transportation to the brain.

It is very interesting to note that nature was able to utilize both classical physics and quantum physics side by side without competition, to combine in order to obtain maximum benefits. It seems that, from photon transfer in retina to neuronal transfer to the brain and interactions in different centers in brain, there are both classic physics, which describe the chemical and electrical modes of communication, and there is quantum mechanical energy transfer via biophotons and vibrational energy transfer, which works hand in hand for optimal results.

Recent studies on primates suggests that various visual cognitive functions exhibit slow rhythmic effects on task performance, which would be supported by low-frequency brain oscillations mainly in the 4–8 Hz frequency range. Alpha brain oscillations (8–12 Hz) play a role in many cognitive functions including visual perception. Alpha oscillation’s amplitude and phase, seem to predict cortical excitability. This will emphasize the significant role of visual input in the process of consciousness since about one-third of the cortical surface in primates brain is involved in visual processing tasks, however, in case of visually impaired or the blind, the plasticity of the brain compensates with rewiring the other sensory inputs instead of optical input to the process of consciousness Kienitz (Eur J Neurosci, 2021).

There would be no such thing as science without conscious minds