Self-referential processing as the biological switch between classical and quantum functioning of the brain.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience January 1, 2026 Josh Roeloffs, Jack A Tuszynski
A proposed framework explains how the brain switches between fast, intuitive (System 1) and slow, analytical (System 2) thinking. Self-referential evaluative monitoring acts as a biological switch, modulating microtubule-mediated quantum coherence through electromagnetic boundary conditions. The causal chain involves locus coeruleus-norepinephrine regulation of the default mode network, electromagnetic patterns from self-evaluation, and calcium-mediated changes to microtubule electrostatic environments. Quantum coherence enables parallel exploration while classical processing provides stability; evolution would have selected mechanisms balancing these demands. Anesthetics disrupt energy-threshold-dependent coherent processes in microtubules, consistent with their effects. Testable predictions relate default mode network activity, flow states, insight, and confidence to shifts along the quantum-classical processing spectrum.