Evolution of Consciousness.

Conscious experiences must be causally potent to provide a survival advantage, yet classical physics-based theories of emergence make consciousness epiphenomenal and unable to evolve by natural selection. This review examines recent theoretical advances treating sentience and free will as fundamental aspects of reality grounded in quantum physics. Modern quantum information theory treats quantum states as a physical resource enabling classically impossible tasks. Identifying conscious experiences with the quantum information in brain states allows for causally potent consciousness capable of genuine choices, with brain cortical networks evolving to enhance computational power, memory, and cognitive intelligence.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The natural evolution of consciousness in different animal species mandates that conscious experiences are causally potent in order to confer any advantage in the struggle for survival. Any endeavor to construct a physical theory of consciousness based on emergence within the framework of classical physics, however, leads to causally impotent conscious experiences in direct contradiction to evolutionary theory since epiphenomenal consciousness cannot evolve through natural selection. Here, we review recent theoretical advances in describing sentience and free will as fundamental aspects of reality granted by quantum physical laws. Modern quantum information theory considers quantum states as a physical resource that endows quantum systems with the capacity to perform physical tasks that are classically impossible. Reductive identification of conscious experiences with the quantum information comprised in quantum brain states allows for causally potent consciousness that is capable of performing genuine choices for future courses of physical action. The consequent evolution of brain cortical networks contributes to increased computational power, memory capacity, and cognitive intelligence of the living organisms.