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What in the world is quantum physics, and what does it have to do with human consciousness?

Finding Spirit in The Fabric of Space & Time 

Just over a year ago, for the first time in my life, I seized to exist. I was having a small operation where the doctors gave me an anesthetic that knocked me out of consciousness. My brain was totally unaware of what was happening to me, I remember feeling a sense of detachment like I was falling apart. I was completely unaware of myself, of others and of my surrounding. Then I remember waking up feeling fuzzy and weird, unsure of what was going on. But I was definitely awake, I was definitely present at the moment. I had regained consciousness of myself and others around me. But what struck me most, was that I was unaware of how long I had been unconscious, it could have been five minutes, five days, or even five years. It was a blank moment in my life where I had no consciousness and no control of what was happening. In reality, my life at the time simply just didn’t seem to exist

An illustration of brain activity during states of consciousness VS. unconsciousness

When someone is under anesthesia, it is as if they are objects. They have no perception of the world around them or even themselves. In the processes of waking up from anesthesia, we turn from being objects to being people again. During that instant moment in which we return back to our normal sense of self, we experience one of the greatest remaining mysteries in science and philosophy, consciousness. How and why does consciousness happen? Somehow within our brains, there are combined activities of millions of neurons that create a conscious experience of the world around us. How does all of this fit into our understanding of our selves and of the world? Answering this question is not only important in a sense of understanding what consciousness is, but because of the fact that without consciousness nothing else will simply exist. We will all be under anesthesia for the rest of our lives.

Most people believe that we know nothing about how the brain and body give rise to consciousness. Some may even believe that consciousness is beyond the reach of science and philosophy altogether. However, in the past eighty years or so, there has been an eruption of theories and scientific work in this area. Among the different approaches and scientific domains that seek to explain why and how human consciousness happens, is quantum physics. Therefore, I have chosen The Awakening as my form of media in order to bring to life the possibility of understanding and explaining human consciousness. As Quantum Consciousness is portrayed as a substantive method that seeks to explain human consciousness because consciousness controls reality, quantum physics can explain human consciousness and the conscious mind exhibits quantum processes.  

 

The Awakening is a YouTube video that encapsulates the strange link between quantum physics and human consciousness. It seeks to demystify the anomalies of human consciousness and better understand its influence on perceptual reality. The video is divided into small segments, it first begins with an explanation of the anatomical structure of the brain and nervous system. Then moves on to objectively show how the emergence of quantum physics created an evolutionary understanding of how the universe works and behaves on a microscopic level. The Awakening focuses on the fundamental aspects of utilizing quantum physics in order to better understand human consciousness and how it especially affects our reality.

A YouTube Video, The Awakening. Describing the relationship between quantum physics and consciousness. 

Quantum consciousness is portrayed as a new scientific theory that explains how human consciousness controls the subatomic world and determines existence. The theory of quantum consciousness creates a different understanding of how the human mind functions and could possibly play an important role in explaining how consciousness effects perceptual reality. In quantum physics, reality is referred to as the world of subatomic particles that are in constant motion. This world of subatomic particles functions in a cohesive manner that ultimately manifests itself in what we know as reality and the physical world. Understanding the physical world down to its tiniest level is what brought about the field of quantum physics. Human consciousness, on the other hand, is regarded as a study that belongs to the psychological domain of knowledge. Many psychologists such as Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung explained consciousness as the state of awareness of being and the present moment. Moreover, relating these two fields of study may seem arbitrary in a sense that invokes the question of how can quantum physics provide existential evidence that explains human consciousness in a way that psychology and neurobiology could not?

 

Many theoretical physicists’ such as Michio Kaku and Roger Penrose (Kaku,2013; Penrose,1998) suggest that utilizing quantum physics in order to better understand human consciousness is not so arbitrary at all. They believe that the basic rules of quantum physics such as quantum entanglement and the law of superposition may indeed be applied to the study of human consciousness. This is mainly due to the idea that human consciousness can be thought as a spectrum of subatomic particles that are in constant motion, these moving subatomic particles are what ignite the mental thought process (p.377.) According to Rosenblum (1999) a theoretical physicist who holds a Ph.D. in engineering physics, the theory of quantum entanglement simply suggests that matter is made up of subatomic particles that collide to form an energy field, the collisions that occur between these particles are not subject to remain in a single space or position. This means that particles of one object can collide with particles of another object, creating an entanglement of the two objects at the same time (p.343.)  In The Awakening, it is inferred that subatomic particles within one’s consciousness are in fact entangled with one’s reality. This, in turn, suggests that people are able to influence their reality through their conscious awareness because of the entanglement of the subatomic spectrum of human consciousness, with the subatomic spectrum of the universe.  Dr. Allan Hass (2011), a clinical researcher in the department of psychology at Harvard University suggested that the theory of superposition also proposes a similar approach to the law of entanglement. He states that any particle from one space can be added to another particle in another space in order to create a third outcome; which is the proposed position of the combination of particles. This means that one particle can be positioned in two spaces at the same time and that there is no identifiable position for a single particle under this law. In relation to quantum consciousness, the law of superposition purposes that the field of energy in the conscious mind concurrently combines with the field of energy of the subatomic world. Thereby, creating a new outcome where the two energy fields collide to influence each other(p.29.)

A network of entangled subatomic particles in the brain. 

Dr. Michio Kaku (2014) believes that quantum mechanics is the single greatest theory in the history of physics. He believes that the field of quantum physics holds the key to unlocking the world’s greatest mysteries including human consciousness. He was most fascinated by the works of the father of quantum mechanics, Erwin Schrodinger. Schrodinger (1935) suggested that the mind controls the outcome of any experimental study simply by just observing it.  Nevertheless, his idea’s seemed to be too extreme for theoretical physicists such as Albert Einstein. Einstein (1926) merely responded in a cynical manner that clearly suggests his disbelief in the field of quantum mechanics, he stated: “If quantum theory is correct, it signifies the end of physics as a science.” (p.80.) Regardless of Einstein’s remarks on quantum physics and Schrodinger’s theory of mind, quantum physics has since evolved to become a separate field of study that focuses on the microscopic properties of the physical world. Assuredly, mathematician and theoretical physicist Sir Roger Penrose (2009) believed that every theoretical study regardless of its value must be considered in science. It is the only way we can find the truth behind the mysteries of this world, and it is the only way we humans may grow out of our shells and begin to expand our understanding of this universe (p.1872)

Quantum consciousness is portrayed as a hypothesis that seeks to bridge the two concepts of quantum physics and human consciousness.  Quantum consciousness is the idea that the mind exhibits processes governed by quantum mechanics. This idea originated when pioneers in quantum mechanics in the early 20th century such as Erwin Schrodinger (1935) who designed a thought experiment where he placed a cat in a large steel box, then added a vile of radioactive substance and a radioactive meter which triggers the radioactive material in order for it to react or decay. While the box was closed, there was no way that Schrodinger would find out if the radioactive substance had reacted, he concluded that if it reacted the cat would die from radioactive poisoning. However, if it did not react the cat would still be alive inside the box. Schrodinger understood that radioactive atoms are present in a state of superposition, which implies that the radioactive substance would react and not react at the same time, hence, they are present in both states simultaneously. The anomaly of this experiment was to figure out whether the cat was dead or alive without opening the box. Schrodinger concluded that the law of superposition, in this case, would entail that the cat would simultaneously be both dead and alive. Although his conclusion may seem a bit obscure in a sense of how is it possible for the cat to be both dead and alive at the same time? Schrodinger suggested that it is possible for this phenomenon to occur simply because of the fact that the cat is present in the steel box, and we have no idea if it is dead or alive. Therefore, the probability of the cat being dead or alive are both equally likely. The only way to find out is to open the box and have the conscious mind of the experimenter observe the outcome of this experiment.  Only then, Schrodinger was able to find out whether the cat was dead or alive. He also reasoned that in a quantum experiment, the conscious mind of the observer determines the outcome of the experiment. This conclusion does not imply that if the experimenter thought the cat to be dead, it would die because of his conscious thinking. Rather, it is more of the fact that the conscious mind of the experimenter observed the state of the cat after opening the box. Without the conscious mind, the laws of quantum mechanics would collapse. In this case, without Schrodinger actually looking into the box, the cat would be both dead and alive until he observes it (p.327.)

A YouTube video of Dr. Michio Kaku describing Schrodinger's cat paradox. Narrated by Morgan Freeman.

While many scientists such as Albert Einstein refused to believe the outcome of Schrodinger’s cat paradox (Cavalcanti, 2015), it wasn’t until another theoretical physicist came along to add to this thought experiment that more people began to accept the idea of quantum consciousness. His name was Eugene Wigner, a Nobel prize winner in 1963 for his discovery of the neutron and his contribution to the theory of the atomic nucleus. Wigner said, “It was not possible to formulate the laws of quantum mechanics in a fully consistent way without reference to consciousness.” (p.5.) Wigner (1961) believed that the laws of quantum physics ascend from the existence of a conscious mind, and no quantum experiment would adhere to scientific measures unless consciousness is involved.  To assert his belief, Wigner published an article entitled “remarks on the mind-body problem” in which he emphasizes the role of consciousness in quantum mechanics:

 

When the province of physical theory was extended to encompass microscopic phenomena, through the creation of quantum mechanics, the concept of consciousness came to the fore again: it was not possible to formulate the laws of quantum mechanics without reference to the consciousness.  All that quantum mechanics purports to describe are probability connections between subsequent impressions (also called ‘apperceptions’) of consciousness, and even though the dividing line between the observer, whose consciousness is being affected, and the observed physical object can be shifted towards one or the other to a considerable degree, it cannot be eliminated (p.172.)

The overall Certainty of Wigner’s belief concludes that quantum consciousness arises from an objective theory that correlates the microscopic physical domain of the universe with the conscious awareness of the human mind. According to Dr. Bhutkar (2015), a physicist and departmental researcher at the University of Pune in India, the very act of consciousness is contingent upon a series of experiences and responses woven in the chain of causality that is taken from the knowledge system of the universe. Therefore, the energy system of the mind field is subject to inherit interactions with the energy field of the universe. He also suggests that this evolutionary adaptive mechanism allowed scientists to consider human consciousness as a byproduct of universal consciousness (p.479.) Consciousness is the twilight zone that underlines the difference between traditional physical theory and the theory of quantum physics. As mentioned before in this essay, Schrodinger and Winger emphasized that the conscious mind of the observer acts as a variable in any quantum experiment, without it the quantum theory would collapse. This suggests an intertwined relationship between the two aspects of consciousness and quantum mechanics, where one aspect influences and effects the other.

 

Thus far, I have touched upon The Awakening’s emphasis on the basic rules that govern the quantum mechanical world. The theories previously mentioned are the laws of superposition and quantum entanglement. In a nutshell, the law of superposition suggests that one particle may be present in two different states at the same time. For example, a coin toss results in either heads or tails. However, while the coin is in the air the probability of the outcome of heads or tails are both equally likely. In relation to quantum superposition, the coin is both heads and tails at the same time while it is in the air. The law of entanglement, on the other hand, invokes the interaction of more than one particle at the same time. This interaction leads to higher probability rates of possible outcomes and suggests a collision between the energies exerted by each of these particles. In terms of the coin toss example, imagine if we toss more than one coin in the air. The probability of achieving heads or tails have now gone higher, however, in a quantum paradigm, the actual probability of achieving heads or tails relies on the outcome of each coin toss. Therefore, the outcome of one-coin toss would inherently affect the outcome of another coin toss.

An Image showing the possible outcomes of a coin toss 

Quantum consciousness is portrayed as a new approach that proposes theoretical claims of how the conscious mind exhibits quantum processes. The human brain has been a topic of dispute amongst scientists when it comes to describing it in terms of quantum processes. Many scientists believe that quantum processing is fundamental in understanding subatomic mechanisms in physics and chemistry. However, it is rather unorthodox to include biological mechanisms within the field of quantum mechanics. For instance, Max Tegmark (2014) a physics professor at MIT suggested that biological environments such as the one in the human brain would not sustain quantum processes simply because of its warm and fluid structure. His reasoning ascended from the notion that the brain’s size, temperature, and fundamental neural processes would not undergo quantum entanglement or superposition. He believes that for quantum effects to become relatively active in the brain, the absolute temperature in that environment must be under zero degrees(p.190.) Contrary to Tegmark’ s remarks on quantum neural processes, Dr. Stuart Hameroff (1998) an anesthesiologist and a neurobiology professor at the University of Arizona suggested that the brain exhibits complex quantum processes within the neurons, specifically the microtubules. Microtubules are thin fibers within the brain’s neurons that function in regulating the transport of electrical impulses along the neurons. With the help of theoretical physicist and mathematician Sir Roger Penrose (1998), they were able to discover vibrations that occur within the microtubules which adhere to quantum processes. The discovery of quantum vibrations within the microtubules inherently supported their controversial theory of quantum consciousness, and complex quantum computational processes exhibited in the brain (p.1870.) Further development in the field of quantum processes in the brain began to highlight the possibility that quantum physics might indeed help explain complex neural mechanism involved in conscious thinking. Ultimately the overall purpose of quantum consciousness is to employ a new perspective on how the conscious mind functions, taking a new standpoint that is farfetched from standard neurological and psychological beliefs.

Notably, the idea that the human brain is able to perform processes that are far beyond the ability of modern artificial intelligence may suggest that there is a possibility of complex quantum processing occurring in the brain. Human consciousness for example, remains mysterious in a sense where scientists have only defined it in an esoteric manner. This inherently suggests that our understanding of the conscious mind is very minimal, as both psychological and neurological understandings of consciousness constitutes its functional domain rather than how it is derived and why do we have these conscious experiences and thoughts. The perplexing issue of trying to understand the unknown variables of consciousness underlines the exact purpose of my media outlet The Awakening. It is undeniable to see that the video truly advocates for the sense of understanding the power of our conscious mind in hopes to manufacture a response for how and why we have conscious experiences and thoughts. Mathew Fisher (2015), a physics professor at the University of California proposed that consciousness is a derivative of chemical actions in the brain. He states that chemical compounds such as phosphorus and calcium bond together in order to form an entangled state, where the brain is able to perform complex processes and behave in such a manner that modern artificial intelligence could not (p.595.) Although his published works on quantum consciousness created a stir in the scientific world, Fisher still believes that whether his hypothesis is proven right or wrong, it will still act as a beneficial contribution to the science behind consciousness and quantum theory: “I believe that if phosphorus nuclear spin is not being used for quantum processing, then quantum mechanics is not operative in longtime scales in cognition, ruling that out is important scientifically. It would be good for science to know.” (p.601.)

An image showing synaptic neural activities in the brain. 

Going back to the studies of Stuart Hameroff (1998), the classical view of how neurons interact with each other in the brain is described as the domino effect. For example, if one neuron fires an electrical signal, the neuron next to it will fire up simultaneously and so on. This interaction creates a chain reaction within the brains neurons that ultimately conducts electrical signals from one area of the brain to another. Although Hameroff (1998) understands that the nervous system is governed by this fundamental mechanism, he believes that there are more complex interactions that occur in the neurons. These interactions are dictated by quantum processes such as quantum entanglement. Neurons experiencing quantum entanglement are able to fire up an electrical signal in one part of the brain simultaneously when another part of the brain is fired up. This simply means that neurons are able to communicate with other neurons that are relatively farther in space without activating the chain reaction mechanism, or the domino effect. Theses neurons are said to be connected even though they are spatially separated because of the law of entanglement. This hypothesis led to the belief that a group of neurons in one brain cell can effect a group of neurons in another brain cell regardless of the spatial distance between them (p.1887.)

 

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A video showing Dr. Hameroff's theory on quantum processes occurring in the brain. 

Although I have explained the approach that quantum physics has taken in order to answer the question of how and why consciousness happens. Scientists in this field of study remain uncertain in regards to objectively prove that quantum physics is in fact the key to unlocking the mysteries of human consciousness. However, I would like to think that the theory of quantum physics is yet another stepping stone that is bringing us closer to understanding the truth behind consciousness. If we think of how science has impacted our lives in the past two hundred years, and how the gradual change and improvement in science and technology led to better understanding the world around us. There was once a time where people thought the earth was flat and that the sun was a planet. But as we now know, these obscure theories have grown out of their molds thanks to the advancement of science and technology. Moreover, with time and more research we will one day stumble upon the true nature of what consciousness really is.

References:

 

Bhutkar, R. G. (2015). The Quantum Field Model of Experiences, Responses, and Thoughts.

     Neuroquantology, 13(4), 475-486. Retrieved from:
     http://web.a.ebscohost.com.proxy.library.vcu.edu/ehost/pdfviewer

 

 

Cavalcanti, E. (2015). Schrodinger’s Cat Gets a Reality Check. Phys Org. Retrieved from:

     https://phys.org/news/2015-02-schrodinger-cat-reality.html

 

Dyer, M. (1994). Quantum Physics and Consciousness, Creativity, Computers: A Commentary
     on Goswami’s Quantum-Based Theory of Consciousness and Free Will. The journal of
     mind and behavior, 15(3), 265-290. Retrieved from:
     http://www.jstore.org/stable/43853644

 

Fisher, M. (2015). Quantum Cognition: the possibility of processing with nuclear spins in the
     brain, 362, 594-603. Retrieved from: https://ac.els-cdn.com/S0003491615003243/1

 

[freedom TV]. (2015, May 1). THE AWAKENING – Quantum Mechanics of the Human Brain
     & Consciousness.[video file]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

 

Hameroff, S., & Penrose, R. (1998). Quantum Computation in Brain Microtubules? The
     Penrose—Hameroff ‘ Orch OR’ Model of Consciousness. Philosophical transaction:
     mathematical, physical and engineering sciences, 356(1743), 1869-1896.
     Retrieved from: http://www.jstor.org/stable/55017

 

[MrAndersohn]. (2013, Oct 22). Brain is a Quantum Computer. [video file]. Retrieved from:
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPLbWsYhZMA

 

[One stop self-reformation]. (2014, May 12). Quantum Physics and Consciousness [video file].
      retrieved form: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9KnrVlpqoM

 

Ouellette, J. (2016). Can Quantum Physics Explain Consciousness? A new approach to a once
     farfetched theory is making it plausible that the brain functions like a quantum computer.
    Retrieved from: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/11/quantum-brain/506768/

 

Reid, M. (2014). Einstein vs Quantum Mechanics, and Why He'd Be a Convert Today.
      phys org, retrieved form: https://phys.org/news/2014-06-einstein-quantum-mechanics

 

Rosenblum, B., & Kuttner, F. (1999). Consciousness and Quantum Mechanics: The Connection
      and Analogies. The journal of mind and behavior, 20(3), 229-256.
      retrieved from: http://www.jstore.org/stable/43853891

 

Schafer, L. Carl Gustav Jung, Quantum Physics, and The Spiritual Mind: A Mystical Vision of
       The Twenty-First Century. Behavioral sciences, 3(4), 601-618. Retrieved from:
       http://doi.org/10.3390/bs3040601

 

Tegmark, Max. (2014). Our Mathematical Universe: My Quest for the Ultimate Nature of
     Reality. 184-190. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf

 

Trimmer, J. (1980). The Present Situation in Quantum Mechanics: A Translation of
     Schrodinger’s “ Cat Paradox” Paper. Proceedings of the American Philosophical society,
        124(5), 323-338. Retrieved from: http://www.jstor.org/stable/986572

 

Weingarten, P., Doraiswamy, M., & Fisher, M. (2016). A New Spin on Neural Processing:
     Quantum Cognition. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 10, 541. Retrieved from:
      http://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2016.00541

 

Wigner, E. (1961). Remarks on The Mind-Body Problem. The Scientist speculates, 13(1),
      171-181. Retrieved from:
       http://www.informationphilosopher.com/solutions/scientists/wigner/Wigner_Remarks.pdf

Attributions for Media 

 

"Highly active and synchronized: nerve cells under anesthesia. Neuroscience news image is credited to"  by Thomas Splettstoesser. 

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"The Awakening" by Freedom TV. 

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"A new spin on the quantum brain" by davidope. 

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" Quantum physics and Consciousness" by One stop self-reformation.

"Brain synapse" by  A.S.K. 

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"Stuart Hameroff  Brain Quantum Computer" by  MatthewHR123. 

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