Quantum effects in the understanding of consciousness.
Journal of Integrative Neuroscience June 1, 2014 Stuart Hameroff, Travis J A Craddock, Jack A Tuszynski
Quantum physics, originally developed for inanimate matter, is increasingly applied to biology and consciousness studies. Individual biological phenomena such as photosynthesis and bird navigation have been analyzed using quantum methods, building conceptual foundations for quantum biology. Several proposals, especially the Orch OR hypothesis, suggest microtubules as the substrate for conscious processes based on quantum coherence and entanglement. Quantum Metabolism, quantum processes in ion channels, and quantum effects in sensory stimulation are also discussed. The paper reviews challenges and merits of quantum consciousness approaches and their potential extensions.