QUANTUM THEORY AND CONSCIOUSNESS

Download PDF file A recent research paper entitled "Generating mechanical and optomechanical entanglement via pulsed interaction and measurement" is paving the way towards demonstrating that even macroscopic harmonic oscillators can display this ‘spooky’ phenomenon in quantum mechanics of being ‘entangled’, that is to say information is passing between these harmonic oscillators faster than the speed of light. The neurons in the brain are in fact harmonic oscillators and it is argued that the ‘binding problem’ in cognitive science is solved if it turns out that all the neurons in the neural network are in fact entangled harmonic oscillators which means that information from different neurons or sets of neurons from diverse regions of the brain can integrate simultaneously to generate in us a unified or holistic consciousness. The philosophical implications of some of the ‘weird’ aspects of quantum mechanics are discussed.

THE REASONABLE INEFFECTIVENESS OF MATHEMATICS IN NEUROSCIENCE

Abstract

One of the leading theories about consciousness is Integrated Information Theory (IIT) which presents a mathematical equation that will calculate a Φ value based on probability distributions of the brain as a whole and its various regions that perform different functions. This Φ value then generates a multi-dimensional shape in a hypothetical space called qualia space which actually defines our conscious experience. As its name suggests IIT relies heavily on the reasoning that led to information theory and digital computing and telecommunications. It is argued that as numbers do not exist in Nature it is impossible for an organic brain to perform as a digital computer. However electromagnetic radiation (EMR) does exist in Nature and EMR is capable of communicating information. A theory is presented that information in the brain is communicated via brainwaves at the speed of light and that the brain is in fact an electronic device that acts as an analog computer.

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