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Quantum Models of Mind: Are They Compatible with Environment Decoherence?

Jean Faber, Luiz Pinguelli Rosa

arXiv Preprint Archive March 5, 2004 preprint

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AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Theoretical or philosophical paper
Keywords Quant-ph Quantum consciousness Quantum biology Mind-body problem
Key points Argues that the Hameroff-Penrose model is incompatible with decoherence, but quantum brain models can still be considered if gravitational collapse Orch OR is replaced with decoherence.

Abstract

We criticize the Hameroff Penrose model in the context of quantum brain model by gravitational collapse orchestrated objective reduction, orch. OR, assumed by Penrose, and we propose instead that the decoherence process is caused by interaction with the environment. We consider it useful to exploit this possibility because of the growing importance of decoherence theory in quantum measurement, and also because quantum mechanics can be applied to brain study independently of the Hameroff Penrose model for mind and consciousness. Our conclusion is that the Hameroff Penrose model is not compatible with decoherence, but nevertheless quantum brain can still be considered if we replace gravitational collapse orch .OR with decoherence.