The emerging physics of consciousness

Consciousness is one of the major unsolved problems in science. How do the feelings and sensations making up conscious experience arise from the concerted actions of nerve cells and their associated synaptic and molecular processes? Can such feelings be explained by modern science, or is there an entirely different kind of explanation needed? And how can this seemingly intractable problem be approached experimentally? How do the operations of the conscious mind emerge out of the specific interactions involving billions of neurons? This multi-authored book seeks answers to these questions within a range of physically based frameworks, i.e, the underlying assumption is that consciousness can be understood using the intellectual potential of modern physics and other sciences. There are a number of theories of consciousness in existence, some of which are based on classical physics while some others require the use of quantum concepts. The latter ones have drawn a lot of criticism from the present-day scientific establishment while simultaneously claiming that classical approaches are doomed to failure. This book presents the reader with a spectrum of opinions from both sides of this on-going scientific debate, letting him/her decide which of these approaches are most likely to succeed.

Author Notes

Professor Jack Tuszynski received his M.Sc. with distinction in Physics from the University of Poznan (Poland) in 1980. He received his Ph.D. in Condensed Matter Physics from the University of Calgary in 1983. He held a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the University of Calgary Chemistry Department in 1983. He was an Assistant Professor at the Department of Physics of the Memorial University of Newfoundland from 1983 to 1988, and at the University of Alberta Physics Department from 1988 to 1990. He joined the University of Alberta Physics Department in 1993. He is on the editorial board of the Journal of Biological Physics.

Jack A. Tuszynski and Nancy WoolfDick J. Bierman and Stephen WhitmarshNancy J. WoolfAndreas Mershin and Hugo Sanabria and John H. Miller and Dharmakeerthna Nawarathna and Efthimios M.C. Skoulakis and Nikolaos E. Mavromatos and Alexadre A. Kolomenskii and Hans A. Schuessler and Richard F. Luduena and Dimitri V. NanopoulosAlwyn ScottStuart HameroffChristopher James DaviaAvner Priel and Jack A. Tuszynski and Horacion F. CantielloLaxmidhar Behera and Indrani Kar and Avshalom C. ElitzurElizabeth C. Behrman and K. Gaddam and J.E. Steck and S.R. SkinnerGordon GlobusJohnjoe McFaddenChris KingPaola Zizzi

1 The Path Ahead	p. 1
1.1 Definition and Fundamentals	p. 1
1.1.1 Definition of Consciousness and the Classical Approach	p. 2
1.1.2 Quantum Theories	p. 4
1.1.3 Quantum Processing by Microtubules and Neurocognition	p. 8
1.2 Overview of the Contributions	p. 11
1.3 New and Notable Developments	p. 17
1.3.1 An Electromagnetic Fingerprint of Transport Along Microtubules	p. 17
1.3.2 Extrapolations to Mesoscopic and Macroscopic Levels	p. 22
1.4 Conclusions	p. 23
References	p. 24
2 Consciousness and Quantum Physics: Empirical Research on the Subjective Reduction of the Statevector	p. 27
2.1 Introduction	p. 27
2.1.1 The Measurement Problem	p. 27
2.1.2 Objective Reduction and Consciousness	p. 29
2.1.3 Previous Empirical Work on Subjective Reduction	p. 30
2.1.4 Current Investigation	p. 33
2.2 Experimental Design	p. 33
2.3 Experimental Procedure	p. 36
2.3.1 Subjects	p. 36
2.3.2 Physiological Measurement	p. 36
2.3.3 Further Procedure	p. 36
2.4 Data Analysis	p. 37
2.5 Results	p. 38
2.6 Conclusions	p. 40
2.7 Further Research	p. 45
Appendix	p. 47
References	p. 47
3 Microtubules in the Cerebral Cortex: Role in Memory and Consciousness	p. 49
3.1 Introduction	p. 49
3.1.1 General Features of the Brain	p. 49
3.1.2 Neuronal Assemblies: Patterns of Connection	p. 51
3.1.3 Neurons, Synapses and Neurotransmitter Molecules	p. 52
3.2 Functions of Microtubules and MAPs	p. 56
3.2.1 Transport along Microtubules	p. 57
3.2.2 Signal Transduction and Anchoring of Signal-Transduction Molecules	p. 57
3.3 Learning and Memory: Neuroplasticity vs. Stability	p. 65
3.3.1 Synaptic Change: Hebb's Rule Revisited	p. 66
3.3.2 Microtubules and MAPs in Dendrites Play a Critical Role in Memory	p. 70
3.3.3 Microtubules Influence Synaptic Efficacy	p. 77
3.4 Consciousness	p. 77
3.4.1 Attention: The Spotlight of Consciousness	p. 78
3.4.2 Waking, Sleeping and Dreaming: Different Levels of Consciousness	p. 80
3.4.3 Mental Force to Think and Act	p. 81
3.4.4 Consciousness, Memory and Microtubules	p. 83
3.5 Microtubules and Quantum Entanglement: A Possible Basis for Memory and Consciousness	p. 85
3.6 Conclusion	p. 89
References	p. 90
4 Towards Experimental Tests of Quantum Effects in Cytoskeletal Proteins	p. 95
4.1 Introduction	p. 96
4.1.1 Overview	p. 96
4.1.2 Tubulin and Microtubules	p. 97
4.1.3 Motivation	p. 101
4.2 QED Model of Tubulin and its Implications	p. 102
4.2.1 Introduction	p. 102
4.2.2 Quantum Coherence in Biological Matter?	p. 105
4.2.3 Implications for Cell Function	p. 115
4.2.4 Conclusions	p. 120
4.3 Tau Accumulation in Drosophila Mushroom Body Neurons Results in Memory Impairment	p. 120
4.3.1 Introduction	p. 120
4.3.2 Drosophila	p. 121
4.3.3 Genetic Engineering	p. 123
4.3.4 Conditioning	p. 126
4.3.5 Controls	p. 128
4.3.6 Results	p. 132
4.3.7 Conclusions	p. 134
4.3.8 Discussion	p. 134
4.4 Refractometry, Surface Plasmon Resonance, and Dielectric Spectroscopy of Tubulin and Microtubules	p. 136
4.4.1 Theory of Dielectrics	p. 136
4.4.2 Optics	p. 141
4.4.3 Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR)	p. 145
4.4.4 Dielectric Spectroscopy	p. 153
4.5 Emerging Directions of Experimental Tests of the Quantum Consciousness Idea	p. 159
4.5.1 Entanglement	p. 159
4.5.2 Molecular Electronics	p. 160
4.5.3 Proposed Further Research	p. 160
4.6 Unification of Concepts and Conclusions	p. 163
4.6.1 Putting It All Together	p. 163
4.6.2 Conclusions	p. 164
References	p. 165
5 Physicalism, Chaos and Reductionism	p. 171
5.1 Introduction	p. 171
5.2 Quantum and Classical Dynamics	p. 172
5.3 What Are Classical Nonlinear Phenomena?	p. 173
5.4 The Biological and Cognitive Hierarchies	p. 174
5.5 Reductionism	p. 177
5.6 Objections to Reductionism	p. 179
5.6.1 Constructionism versus Reductionism	p. 179
5.6.2 Immense Numbers of Possibilities	p. 180
5.6.3 Sensitive Dependence on Initial Conditions	p. 181
5.6.4 The Nature of Causality	p. 181
5.6.5 Nonlinear Causality	p. 183
5.6.6 The Nature of Time	p. 184
5.6.7 Downward Causation	p. 184
5.6.8 Open Systems	p. 185
5.6.9 Closed Causal Loops	p. 186
5.7 Concluding Comments	p. 188
References	p. 190
6 Consciousness, Neurobiology and Quantum Mechanics: The Case for a Connection	p. 193
6.1 Introduction: The Problems of Consciousness	p. 193
6.2 Time and Consciousness	p. 197
6.2.1 Is Consciousness Continuous or a Sequence of Discrete Events?	p. 197
6.2.2 The Timing of Conscious Experience	p. 198
6.2.3 Taking Backward Time Referral Seriously	p. 202
6.3 The Neural Correlate of Consciousness	p. 206
6.3.1 Functional Organization of the Brain	p. 206
6.3.2 Cerebral Cortex and Neuronal Assemblies	p. 208
6.3.3 Axons and Dendrites	p. 208
6.3.4 Neural Synchrony	p. 212
6.3.5 Gap-Junction Assemblies - "Hyperneurons"	p. 215
6.3.6 The Next NCC Frontier - Neuronal Interiors and the Cytoskeleton	p. 216
6.4 The Neuronal Cytoskeleton	p. 217
6.4.1 Microtubules and Networks inside Neurons	p. 217
6.4.2 Microtubule Automata	p. 220
6.4.3 Protein Conformational Dynamics - Nature's Bits and Qubits	p. 224
6.4.4 Anesthesia	p. 225
6.5 Quantum Information Processing	p. 226
6.5.1 Quantum Mechanics	p. 226
6.5.2 Quantum Computation	p. 228
6.5.3 Quantum Computing with Penrose OR	p. 229
6.6 The Quantum Unconscious	p. 230
6.7 Quantum Computation in Microtubules - The Orch OR Model	p. 232
6.7.1 Specifics of Orch OR	p. 232
6.7.2 Decoherence	p. 235
6.7.3 Testability and Falsifiability	p. 236
6.8 Applications of Orch OR to Consciousness and Cognition	p. 236
6.8.1 Visual Consciousness	p. 236
6.8.2 Volition and Free-Will	p. 238
6.8.3 Quantum Associative Memory	p. 239
6.8.4 The Hard Problem of Conscious Experience	p. 239
6.8.5 What is Consciousness?	p. 240
6.8.6 Consciousness and Evolution	p. 241
6.9 Conclusion	p. 242
Appendix	p. 242
References	p. 244
7 Life, Catalysis and Excitable Media: A Dynamic Systems Approach to Metabolism and Cognition	p. 255
7.1 Life and Robustness	p. 255
7.2 Life and Catalysis	p. 260
7.3 Catalysis, Traveling Waves and Excitable Media	p. 271
7.4 The Brain as an Excitable Medium	p. 274
7.5 Conclusion	p. 288
References	p. 289
8 The Dendritic Cytoskeleton as a Computational Device: An Hypothesis	p. 293
8.1 Introduction	p. 293
8.1.1 Neurobiological Introduction	p. 293
8.1.2 Neuro computational Introduction	p. 297
8.1.3 Dendritic Channel Function	p. 299
8.1.4 Actin-Microtubule Cytoskeletal Connections	p. 299
8.2 C-Termini in Microtubules	p. 301
8.2.1 Potential Configurations of Microtubular C-Termini	p. 303
8.2.2 Dynamic Model of the C-Termini	p. 305
8.2.3 Ionic Wave Propagation along MAP2	p. 306
8.3 Ion Waves along Actin Filaments	p. 308
8.3.1 Ionic Condensation along the Actin Filament	p. 308
8.3.2 Electrical Modeling of Actin	p. 309
8.3.3 Implications of Actin Filament's Electrical Activity	p. 312
8.4 Dendritic Cytoskeleton Computation - Vision of Integration	p. 313
8.4.1 MTN Control of Synaptic Plasticity, Modulation, and Integration	p. 318
8.5 Final Statement	p. 320
References	p. 320
9 Recurrent Quantum Neural Network and its Applications	p. 327
9.1 Intelligence - Still Ill-Understood	p. 327
9.2 Intelligent Filtering - Denoising of Complex Signals	p. 328
9.2.1 RQNN Architecture used for Stochastic-Filtering	p. 329
9.2.2 Integration of the Schrodinger Wave Equation	p. 331
9.2.3 Simulation Results I	p. 333
9.3 A Comprehensive Quantum Model of Intelligent Behavior	p. 337
9.4 RQNN-based Eye-Tracking Model	p. 338
9.4.1 A Theoretical Quantum Brain Model	p. 338
9.4.2 An Eye-Tracking Model using RQNN with Nonlinear Modulation of Potential Field	p. 339
9.4.3 Simulation Results II	p. 342
9.5 Concluding Remarks	p. 347
References	p. 348
10 Microtubules as a Quantum Hopfield Network	p. 351
10.1 Introduction	p. 351
10.2 Microtubulin Model	p. 352
10.3 Hopfield Model	p. 354
10.4 Quantum Model	p. 355
10.5 Quantum Hopfield Network	p. 358
10.6 QHN as Information Propagator for a Microtubules Architecture	p. 360
10.7 Conclusions and Future Work	p. 367
References	p. 369
11 Consciousness and Quantum Brain Dynamics	p. 371
11.1 Deconstruction	p. 371
11.2 Quantum Brain Dynamics	p. 373
11.3 Hermitean Dual-Mode Quantum Brain Dynamics	p. 375
11.4 Non-Hermitean Dual-Mode Quantum Brain Dynamics	p. 376
11.5 Application to Mathematics: The Riemann Hypothesis	p. 377
11.6 Monadological Implications of Non-Hermitean Dual-Mode QBD	p. 381
11.7 Comment	p. 383
References	p. 384
12 The CEMI Field Theory: Seven Clues to the Nature of Consciousness	p. 387
12.1 Why Do we Need a Theory of Consciousness?	p. 387
12.2 Field Theories of Consciousness	p. 393
12.3 The Brain's Electromagnetic Field	p. 394
12.4 The Influence of the Brain's Electromagnetic Field on Neural Firing	p. 395
12.5 The CEMI Field Theory	p. 396
12.6 Why don't External Fields Influence our Minds?	p. 397
12.7 Does the CEMI Field Theory Account for the Seven Clues to the Nature of Consciousness?	p. 398
12.8 A Last Word, Concerning Quantum Theories of Consciousness	p. 401
12.9 Conclusions and the Way Forward	p. 404
References	p. 404
13 Quantum Cosmology and the Hard Problem of the Conscious Brain	p. 407
13.1 Subject-Object Complementarity and the Hard Problem	p. 407
13.2 Wave-Particle Complementarity, Uncertainty and Quantum Prediction	p. 410
13.3 Two-Timing Nature of Special Relativity	p. 415
13.4 Reality and Virtuality: Quantum Fields and Seething Uncertainty	p. 416
13.5 The Spooky Nature of Quantum Entanglement	p. 417
13.6 Quantum Match-Making: Transactional Supercausality and Reality	p. 420
13.7 Exploring the "Three Pound Universe"	p. 423
13.8 Chaos and Fractal Dynamics as a Source of Sensitivity, Unpredictability and Uncertainty	p. 428
13.9 Classical and Quantum Computation, Anticipation and Survival	p. 430
13.10 The Cosmic Primality of Membrane Excitation	p. 433
13.11 Chaotic Excitability and Quantum Sensitivity as a Founding Eucaryote Characteristic	p. 437
13.12 Models of the Global-Molecular-Quantum Interface	p. 440
13.13 Quantum Mind and Transactional Supercausality	p. 442
13.14 Complementarity and the Sexuality of Quantum Entanglement	p. 448
13.15 The Hard Problem: Subjective Experience, Intentional Will and Quantum Mind Theories	p. 449
13.16 Consciousness and Neurocosmology	p. 451
References	p. 454
14 Consciousness and Logic in a Quantum Computing Universe	p. 457
14.1 Introduction	p. 458
14.2 The "Big Wow"	p. 459
14.3 How the "Big Wow" Drove Human Minds	p. 461
14.3.1 Entanglement with the Environment	p. 463
14.3.2 Holography and Cellular Automata	p. 463
14.4 Consciousness and Tubulins/Qubits	p. 464
14.5 Consciousness Arises in the "Bits Era"	p. 465
14.5.1 The Boolean Observer	p. 465
14.5.2 The Analogy	p. 466
14.6 The Double Logic of the Observer Inside a Quantum Universe	p. 467
14.7 IT from Qubit: The Whole Universe as a Quantum Computer	p. 468
14.8 Quantum Minds and Black - Hole Quantum Computers in a Quantum Game	p. 469
14.9 Qualia and Quantum Space-Time	p. 470
14.10 Mathematical Intuition and the Logic of the Internal Observer	p. 473
14.11 The Self	p. 475
14.11.1 The Self and the Mirror Measurement	p. 475
14.11.2 Nonself	p. 476
14.11.3 The Universal Self: The Universe and the Mirror	p. 476
14.11.4 The Universal Self: The Mathematical Truth	p. 477
14.12 Conclusion	p. 477
References	p. 479
Index	p. 483

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