Quantum theories of consciousness: a critical review of feasibility, philosophical sufficiency, and empirical testability.
Xun Ma, Aoping Wang
Frontiers in Psychology April 29, 2026 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1730965 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Critical review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Quantum Consciousness Explanatory gap Bridge principle |
| Key findings | Argues that a substantial subset of 'quantum consciousness' research links quantum terms such as collapse, superposition, and entanglement to qualia without testable mechanistic commitments. Proposes that progress requires prioritizing experimentally tractable programs that specify physical feasibility in neural tissue, a bridge from quantum processes to phenomenal character, and testability against classical alternatives. |
Abstract
Explaining subjective experience (the "hard problem") remains a central challenge in consciousness science. Research on "quantum consciousness" has grown rapidly in recent years, yet a substantial subset merely links terms such as collapse, superposition, and entanglement to qualia in verbal maneuvers that lack testable mechanistic commitments. This article adopts a theory-first critical-review framework and evaluates three classes of quantum theories of consciousness along three axes: (1) physical feasibility in warm, wet neural tissue strongly coupled to its environment; (2) philosophical sufficiency, i.e., a bridge from posited quantum processes to phenomenal character; and (3) empirical testability against classical alternatives. Based on the synthesized evidence, the present review suggests that further progress should prioritize experimentally tractable programs, in order to avoid the use of quantum terminology without mechanistic grounding in consciousness research and to convert debates into discriminating empirical programs.
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