How is the human brain related to quantum physics?

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

Nobody knows what consciousness is and how it works. Of course, scientists from different fields of science have a variety of assumptions on this score, but no one can give an exact answer to the question of what consciousness is. A similar situation is observed with quantum mechanics - studying the interaction of the smallest particles of the Universe with each other, physicists have learned a lot. But since quantum mechanics does not agree with Einstein's theory of general relativity, researchers cannot figure out how to bring them to a common denominator.

According to one of the greatest scientists of the twentieth century, physicist Richard Feynman, no one truly understands quantum mechanics. Interestingly, he might just as well have talked about an equally convoluted problem of consciousness. Despite the fact that some scientists believe that consciousness is just an illusion, others, on the contrary, believe that we do not understand at all where it comes from.

So it's not surprising that the age-old mystery of consciousness has prompted some researchers to turn to quantum physics to explain it. But how can one unsolved mystery be explained by another?

What is Consciousness?

It is difficult to define consciousness. How to answer the question of "why am I me" or "how does my consciousness differ from the consciousness of a cat?" or "why do I perceive the world this way and not otherwise?" Fortunately, there are scientists in the world who are ready to give answers, if not all, then many questions about what human consciousness is.

For example, cognitive philosopher Daniel Dennett, professor at Tufts University (USA), in his book "From Bacteria to Bach and Back" talks about how biological processes in the human body create a stream of thoughts and images. The professor believes that the subjective film that is played before the eyes of each of us is nothing more than an illusion skillfully woven by our brain. He also believes that consciousness is not as mysterious as we think and believes that science should explain the objective functioning of the brain.

Among the scholars who disagree with Dennett's point of view is the Australian philosopher and teacher David Chalmers. He proposes to consider consciousness as something fundamental, for example, as the laws of physics, which can be discovered in the future using the latest technology. His second even more radical idea is called the "panspichism hypothesis", according to which consciousness is universal and any system possesses it to some extent, even elementary particles and photons. And where there are photons, there may be quantum mechanics.

How is quantum physics related to consciousness?

In 1921, Albert Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect. The physicist believed that light, which is usually considered a continuous wave, can also be distributed in quanta, which we call photons. This event, along with Max Planck's understanding of blackbody radiation, Niels Bohr's new atomic model, Arthur Compton's X-ray studies and Louis de Broglie's assumption that matter has wave-like properties, marked the beginning of a new quantum era in which you and I were lucky enough to live.

Is it any surprise that a new quantum theory of consciousness has emerged called Orchestrated Objective Reduction (Orch OR), sponsored by Nobel Prize Winner in Physics Professor Roger Penrose of the University of Oxford and anesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff of the University of Arizona.

The Orch OR theory, although it has undergone a number of changes since its inception, generally states that the discovery of quantum oscillations in the "microtubules" that are inside the neurons of the brain gives rise to consciousness. Microtubules (protein polymers) control neuronal and synaptic functions and link brain processes to self-organizing processes at a quantum level. Scientists believe the new theory may even explain the afterlife.

Note that the theory of Penrose and Hameroff has caused a number of criticisms, however, the application of quantum theory in a biological context has continued and had the greatest success in relation to photosynthesis. Interestingly, studies of smell, enzymes, and even bird DNA also suggest that quantum effects may be more widely involved in the functioning of biological organisms.

PhD student Bethany Adams recently published a paper in Physics World on the role of quantum effects in the brain. Adams' study highlights a range of possible quantum effects on the brain, but her doctoral study

focuses on the quantum entanglement between neurons and how it can be affected by pharmaceuticals such as lithium.

While Adams' work covers several potential applications, she herself hopes that her research will bring the world a better understanding of how antidepressants and mood stabilizers work, as well as new treatments for many mental illnesses. But who knows, maybe her work will allow scientists to explain how consciousness works and where it comes from.