Extended Mind Thesis and Quantum Cognition
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that classical computation cannot explain the Extended Mind Thesis and that a quantum mechanical description of cognition is required to solve the Extended Minds Problem. |
Abstract
The Extended Mind Thesis holds that mental states are realized in extended physical systems and are not identical with processes occurring inside the brain. A central question raised by this hypothesis is how to model cognition within this extended framework. Here I propose that classical computation can't explain this extension and one rather needs a quantum mechanical description of cognition to help solve the Extended Minds Problem. I develop a computational model of the relationship between quantum information processing and cognition. In particular, I focus on a ramification of Quantum Cognition representing probabilistic relationships amongst information processing units associated directly through reversible local operations performed on data bits. Based on this, I formulate three classes of memory storage incorporating arbitrary permutations allowed during reversible computations which occur both locally as well as nonlocally and act upon inputted data bits and encode initial correlations amongst separate memory elements existing before computation occurred. In conclusion, I dicuss various implications of my work.