The Emerging Physics of Consciousness (The Frontiers Collection)

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. 3540238905......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 1.1 Definition and Fundamentals......Page 17 1.1.1 Definition of Consciousness and the Classical Approach......Page 18 1.1.2 Quantum Theories......Page 20 1.1.3 Quantum Processing by Microtubules and Neurocognition......Page 24 1.2 Overview of the Contributions......Page 27 1.3.1 An Electromagnetic Fingerprint of Transport Along Microtubules......Page 33 1.3.2 Extrapolations to Mesoscopic and Macroscopic Levels......Page 38 1.4 Conclusions......Page 39 References......Page 40 2.1.1 The Measurement Problem......Page 43 2.1.2 Objective Reduction and Consciousness......Page 45 2.1.3 Previous Empirical Work on Subjective Reduction......Page 46 2.2 Experimental Design......Page 49 2.3.3 Further Procedure......Page 52 2.4 Data Analysis......Page 53 2.5 Results......Page 54 2.6 Conclusions......Page 56 2.7 Further Research......Page 61 References......Page 63 3.1.1 General Features of the Brain......Page 65 3.1.2 Neuronal Assemblies: Patterns of Connection......Page 67 3.1.3 Neurons, Synapses and Neurotransmitter Molecules......Page 68 3.2 Functions of Microtubules and MAPs......Page 72 3.2.2 Signal Transduction and Anchoring of Signal-Transduction Molecules......Page 73 3.3 Learning and Memory: Neuroplasticity vs. Stability......Page 81 3.3.1 Synaptic Change: Hebb's Rule Revisited......Page 82 3.3.2 Microtubules and MAPs in Dendrites Play a Critical Role in Memory......Page 86 3.4 Consciousness......Page 93 3.4.1 Attention: The Spotlight of Consciousness......Page 94 3.4.2 Waking, Sleeping and Dreaming: Different Levels of Consciousness......Page 96 3.4.3 Mental Force to Think and Act......Page 97 3.4.4 Consciousness, Memory and Microtubules......Page 99 3.5 Microtubules and Quantum Entanglement: A Possible Basis for Memory and Consciousness......Page 101 3.6 Conclusion......Page 105 References......Page 106 4 Towards Experimental Tests of Quantum Effects in Cytoskeletal Proteins......Page 111 4.1.1 Overview......Page 112 4.1.2 Tubulin and Microtubules......Page 113 4.1.3 Motivation......Page 117 4.2.1 Introduction......Page 118 4.2.2 Quantum Coherence in Biological Matter?......Page 121 4.2.3 Implications for Cell Function......Page 131 4.3.1 Introduction......Page 136 4.3.2 Drosophila......Page 137 4.3.3 Genetic Engineering......Page 139 4.3.4 Conditioning......Page 142 4.3.5 Controls......Page 144 4.3.6 Results......Page 148 4.3.8 Discussion......Page 150 4.4.1 Theory of Dielectrics......Page 152 4.4.2 Optics......Page 157 4.4.3 Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR)......Page 161 4.4.4 Dielectric Spectroscopy......Page 169 4.5.1 Entanglement......Page 175 4.5.3 Proposed Further Research......Page 176 4.6.1 Putting It All Together......Page 179 4.6.2 Conclusions......Page 180 References......Page 181 5.1 Introduction......Page 187 5.2 Quantum and Classical Dynamics......Page 188 5.3 What Are Classical Nonlinear Phenomena?......Page 189 5.4 The Biological and Cognitive Hierarchies......Page 190 5.5 Reductionism......Page 193 5.6.1 Constructionism versus Reductionism......Page 195 5.6.2 Immense Numbers of Possibilities......Page 196 5.6.4 The Nature of Causality......Page 197 5.6.5 Nonlinear Causality......Page 199 5.6.7 Downward Causation......Page 200 5.6.8 Open Systems......Page 201 5.6.9 Closed Causal Loops......Page 202 5.7 Concluding Comments......Page 204 References......Page 206 6.1 Introduction: The Problems of Consciousness......Page 208 6.2.1 Is Consciousness Continuous or a Sequence of Discrete Events?......Page 212 6.2.2 The Timing of Conscious Experience......Page 213 6.2.3 Taking Backward Time Referral Seriously......Page 217 6.3.1 Functional Organization of the Brain......Page 221 6.3.3 Axons and Dendrites......Page 223 6.3.4 Neural Synchrony......Page 227 6.3.5 Gap-Junction Assemblies – "Hyperneurons"......Page 230 6.3.6 The Next NCC Frontier – Neuronal Interiors and the Cytoskeleton......Page 231 6.4.1 Microtubules and Networks inside Neurons......Page 232 6.4.2 Microtubule Automata......Page 235 6.4.3 Protein Conformational Dynamics – Nature's Bits and Qubits......Page 239 6.4.4 Anesthesia......Page 240 6.5.1 Quantum Mechanics......Page 241 6.5.2 Quantum Computation......Page 243 6.5.3 Quantum Computing with Penrose OR......Page 244 6.6 The Quantum Unconscious......Page 245 6.7.1 Specifics of Orch OR......Page 247 6.7.2 Decoherence......Page 250 6.8.1 Visual Consciousness......Page 251 6.8.2 Volition and Free-Will......Page 253 6.8.4 The Hard Problem of Conscious Experience......Page 254 6.8.5 What is Consciousness?......Page 255 6.8.6 Consciousness and Evolution......Page 256 Appendix......Page 257 References......Page 259 7.1 Life and Robustness......Page 269 7.2 Life and Catalysis......Page 274 7.3 Catalysis, Traveling Waves and Excitable Media......Page 285 7.4 The Brain as an Excitable Medium......Page 288 7.5 Conclusion......Page 302 References......Page 303 8.1.1 Neurobiological Introduction......Page 307 8.1.2 Neuro computational Introduction......Page 311 8.1.4 Actin–Microtubule Cytoskeletal Connections......Page 313 8.2 C-Termini in Microtubules......Page 315 8.2.1 Potential Configurations of Microtubular C-Termini......Page 317 8.2.2 Dynamic Model of the C-Termini......Page 319 8.2.3 Ionic Wave Propagation along MAP2......Page 320 8.3.1 Ionic Condensation along the Actin Filament......Page 322 8.3.2 Electrical Modeling of Actin......Page 323 8.3.3 Implications of Actin Filament's Electrical Activity......Page 326 8.4 Dendritic Cytoskeleton Computation – Vision of Integration......Page 327 8.4.1 MTN Control of Synaptic Plasticity, Modulation, and Integration......Page 332 References......Page 334 9.1 Intelligence – Still Ill-Understood......Page 340 9.2 Intelligent Filtering – Denoising of Complex Signals......Page 341 9.2.1 RQNN Architecture used for Stochastic-Filtering......Page 342 9.2.2 Integration of the Schrödinger Wave Equation......Page 344 9.2.3 Simulation Results I......Page 346 9.3 A Comprehensive Quantum Model of Intelligent Behavior......Page 350 9.4.1 A Theoretical Quantum Brain Model......Page 351 9.4.2 An Eye–Tracking Model using RQNN with Nonlinear Modulation of Potential Field......Page 352 9.4.3 Simulation Results II......Page 355 9.5 Concluding Remarks......Page 360 References......Page 382 10.1 Introduction......Page 364 10.2 Microtubulin Model......Page 365 10.3 Hopfield Model......Page 367 10.4 Quantum Model......Page 368 10.5 Quantum Hopfield Network......Page 371 10.6 QHN as Information Propagator for a Microtubules Architecture......Page 373 10.7 Conclusions and Future Work......Page 380 11.1 Deconstruction......Page 384 11.2 Quantum Brain Dynamics......Page 386 11.3 Hermitean Dual-Mode Quantum Brain Dynamics......Page 388 11.4 Non-Hermitean Dual-Mode Quantum Brain Dynamics......Page 389 11.5 Application to Mathematics: The Riemann Hypothesis......Page 390 11.6 Monadological Implications of Non-Hermitean Dual-Mode QBD......Page 394 11.7 Comment......Page 396 References......Page 397 12.1 Why Do we Need a Theory of Consciousness?......Page 399 12.2 Field Theories of Consciousness......Page 405 12.3 The Brain's Electromagnetic Field......Page 406 12.4 The Influence of the Brain's Electromagnetic Field on Neural Firing......Page 407 12.5 The CEMI Field Theory......Page 408 12.6 Why don't External Fields Influence our Minds?......Page 409 12.7 Does the CEMI Field Theory Account for the Seven Clues to the Nature of Consciousness?......Page 410 12.8 A Last Word, Concerning Quantum Theories of Consciousness......Page 413 References......Page 416 13.1 Subject–Object Complementarity and the Hard Problem......Page 419 13.2 Wave–Particle Complementarity, Uncertainty and Quantum Prediction......Page 422 13.3 Two-Timing Nature of Special Relativity......Page 427 13.4 Reality and Virtuality: Quantum Fields and Seething Uncertainty......Page 428 13.5 The Spooky Nature of Quantum Entanglement......Page 429 13.6 Quantum Match-Making: Transactional Supercausality and Reality......Page 432 13.7 Exploring the "Three Pound Universe"......Page 435 13.8 Chaos and Fractal Dynamics as a Source of Sensitivity, Unpredictability and Uncertainty......Page 440 13.9 Classical and Quantum Computation, Anticipation and Survival......Page 442 13.10 The Cosmic Primality of Membrane Excitation......Page 445 13.11 Chaotic Excitability and Quantum Sensitivity as a Founding Eucaryote Characteristic......Page 449 13.12 Models of the Global-Molecular-Quantum Interface......Page 452 13.13 Quantum Mind and Transactional Supercausality......Page 454 13.14 Complementarity and the Sexuality of Quantum Entanglement......Page 460 13.15 The Hard Problem: Subjective Experience, Intentional Will and Quantum Mind Theories......Page 461 13.16 Consciousness and Neurocosmology......Page 463 References......Page 466 14 Consciousness and Logic in a Quantum Computing Universe......Page 469 14.1 Introduction......Page 470 14.2 The "Big Wow"......Page 471 14.3 How the "Big Wow" Drove Human Minds......Page 473 14.3.2 Holography and Cellular Automata......Page 475 14.4 Consciousness and Tubulins/Qubits......Page 476 14.5.1 The Boolean Observer......Page 477 14.5.2 The Analogy......Page 478 14.6 The Double Logic of the Observer Inside a Quantum Universe......Page 479 14.7 IT from Qubit: The Whole Universe as a Quantum Computer......Page 480 14.8 Quantum Minds and Black – Hole Quantum Computers in a Quantum Game......Page 481 14.9 Qualia and Quantum Space-Time......Page 482 14.10 Mathematical Intuition and the Logic of the Internal Observer......Page 485 14.11.1 The Self and the Mirror Measurement......Page 487 14.11.3 The Universal Self: The Universe and the Mirror......Page 488 14.12 Conclusion......Page 489 References......Page 491 C......Page 494 H......Page 495 N......Page 496 S......Page 497 V......Page 498 The Path Ahead / Jack A. Tuszynski, Nancy Woolf -- Consciousness And Quantum Physics : Empirical Research On The Subjective Reduction Of The Statevector / Dick J. Bierman, Stephen Whitmarsh -- Microtubules In The Cerebral Cortex : Role In Memory And Consciousness / Nancy J. Woolf -- Towards Experimental Tests Of Quantum Effects In Cytoskeletal Proteins / Andreas Mershin ... [et Al.] -- Physicalism, Chaos And Reductionism / Alwyn Scott -- Consciousness, Neurobiology And Quantum Mechanics : The Case For A Connection / Stuart Hameroff -- Life, Catalysis And Excitable Media : A Dynamic Systems Approach To Metabolism And Cognition / Christopher James Davia -- The Dendritic Cytoskeleton As A Computational Device : An Hypothesis / Avner Priel, Jack A. Tuszynski, Horacion F. Cantiello -- Recurrent Quantum Neural Network And Its Applications / Laxmidhar Behera, Indrani Kar, Avshalom C. Elitzur -- Microtubules As A Quantum Hopfield Network / Elizabeth C. Behrman ... [et Al.] -- Consciousness And Quantum Brain Dynamics / Gordon Globus -- The Cemi Field Theory : Seven Clues To The Nature Of Consciousness / Johnjoe Mcfadden -- Quantum Cosmology And The Hard Problem Of The Conscious Brain / Chris King -- Consciousness And Logic In A Quantum Computing Universe / Paola Zizzi. Jack A. Tuszynski (ed.). Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Consciousness remains 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 book seeks answers to these questions on the underlying assumption that consciousness can be understood using the intellectual potential of modern physics and other sciences. There are a number of theories of consciousness, some based on classical physics while others require the use of quantum concepts. The latter ones have drawn criticism from the parts of the scientific establishment while simultaneously claiming that classical approaches are doomed to failure. The contributing authors present a spectrum of opinions from both sides of this on-going scientific debate, allowing readers to decide for themselves which of the approaches are most likely to succeed. Seeks answers to these questions using the underlying assumption that consciousness can be understood using the intellectual potential of modern physics and other sciences. There are a number of theories of consciousness, some based on classical physics while others require the use of quantum concepts. The latter ones have drawn criticism from the parts of the scientific establishment while simultaneously claiming that classical approaches are doomed to failure. The contributing authors presents a spectrum of opinions from both sides of this on-going scientific debate, allowing readers to decide for themselves which of the approaches are most likely to succeed.