'Orch OR' is the most complete, and most easily falsifiable theory of consciousness.

The 'Orch OR' theory proposes that consciousness arises from quantum computations occurring in microtubules within brain neurons. Quantum computers process information as superpositions of multiple possibilities (quantum bits or qubits), which in Orch OR are alternative collective dipole oscillations orchestrated by microtubules. These oscillations entangle, compute, and terminate via Penrose objective reduction, producing sequences of moments that correspond to conscious experience, more like music than computation. Each event selects microtubule states that influence neuronal functions. The theory has broad explanatory power and is easily falsifiable.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The 'Orch OR' theory attributes consciousness to quantum computations in microtubules inside brain neurons. Quantum computers process information as superpositions of multiple possibilities (quantum bits or qubits) which, in Orch OR, are alternative collective dipole oscillations orchestrated ('Orch') by microtubules. These orchestrated oscillations entangle, compute, and terminate ('collapse of the wavefunction') by Penrose objective reduction ('OR'), resulting in sequences of Orch OR moments with orchestrated conscious experience (metaphorically more like music than computation). Each Orch OR event selects microtubule states which govern neuronal functions. Orch OR has broad explanatory power, and is easily falsifiable.