Physics:Quantum brain dynamics
In neuroscience, quantum brain dynamics (QBD) is a hypothesis to explain the function of the brain within the framework of quantum field theory.
As described by Harald Atmanspacher, "Since quantum theory is the most fundamental theory of matter that is currently available, it is a legitimate question to ask whether quantum theory can help us to understand consciousness."
The original motivation in the early 20th century for relating quantum theory to consciousness was essentially philosophical. It is fairly plausible that conscious free decisions (“free will”) are problematic in a perfectly deterministic world, so quantum randomness might indeed open up novel possibilities for free will. (On the other hand, randomness is problematic for goal-directed volition!)[1]
Ricciardi and Umezawa proposed in 1967 a general theory of quanta of long-range coherent waves within and between brain cells, and showed a possible mechanism of memory storage and retrieval in terms of Nambu–Goldstone bosons.[2] This was later fleshed out into a theory encompassing all biological cells and systems in the quantum biodynamics of Del Giudice and co-authors.[3][4] Mari Jibu and Kunio Yasue later popularized these results and discussed the implications towards consciousness.[5][6][7]
See also
- Critical brain hypothesis
- Electromagnetic theories of consciousness
- Neuroplasticity
- Quantum mind
- Shadows of the Mind, 1994 book by Roger Penrose
- Quantum Aspects of Life (book)
References
- ↑ Atmanspacher, Harald (2 June 2015). "Quantum Approaches to Consciousness". Center for the Study of Language and Information (CSLI), Stanford University. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/qt-consciousness/.
- ↑ "Brain and physics of many-body problems". Kybernetik 4 (2): 44–48. 1967. doi:10.1007/bf00292170. PMID 5617419.
- ↑ "Electromagnetic field and spontaneous symmetry breaking in biological matter". Nucl. Phys. B 275 (2): 185–199. 1986. doi:10.1016/0550-3213(86)90595-x. Bibcode: 1986NuPhB.275..185D.
- ↑ "Water as a free electric dipole laser". Physical Review Letters 61 (9): 1085–1088. 1988. doi:10.1103/physrevlett.61.1085. PMID 10039515. Bibcode: 1988PhRvL..61.1085D.
- ↑ Quantum Brain Dynamics: An Introduction. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. 1995.
- ↑ "What is mind? Quantum field theory of evanescent photons in brain as quantum theory of consciousness". Informatica 21: 471–490. 1997.
- ↑ Yasue, Kunio. "Quantum Monadology". Archived from the original on June 25, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140625024817/http://cognet.mit.edu/posters/TUCSON3/Yasue.html.
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