Biological nonlocality and the mind-brain interaction problem: comments on a new empirical approach

The mind-brain interaction problem—how a subjective, immaterial mind can interact with an objective, material brain—may be resolved through quantum mechanics, specifically biological entanglement and nonlocality. Analysis of recent experiments suggests that quantum effects could explain how mental events initiate neural events, enable transference of conscious subjective experience, and address the measurement problem and the binding problem. Ongoing and proposed experiments may further clarify these connections.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Up to now, we have been faced with an age old fundamental dilemma posed by the mind-brain interaction problem, i.e. how is it that the mind which is subjective and immaterial, can interact with the brain which is objective and material? Analysis of recent experiments appears to indicate that quantum mechanics may have a role to play in the resolution of the mind-brain interaction problem in the form of biological entanglement and nonlocality. This analysis, when coupled with ongoing and proposed experiments, may help us to simultaneously resolve related issues such as whether mental events can initiate neural events, the transference of conscious subjective experience, the measurement problem and the binding problem.