Quantum Information Processes in Protein Microtubules of Brain Neurons
N. Enaki, V. Koroli, S. Bazgan, A. Nistreanu, S. Palistrant, D. Bogoev, M. Ţurcan, T. Pislari, Y. Boshneaga, N. Lambropoulos, Shushma Patel, A. Khrennikov, M. Marinucci, S. C. Kwok, L. Pannese, M. Arniani, R. Torrenti, S. Maslobrod, V. Scherbakov, E. Kuznetsov, I. Moldovanu, O. Misic, S. Odobescu, A. Lupușor, A. Cernei, V. Vovc, O. Arnaut, N. Ciobanu, P. Tuzlucov, S. Kernbach, A. Šorli, V. Anisimov
January 1, 2016 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-287-736-9_60 (opens in new tab) via Semantic Scholar
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractConscious awareness may arise from quantum processes inside brain neurons that are orchestrated by microtubule proteins. These coherent quantum states evolve until they undergo a specific form of quantum state reduction, the Diosi-Penrose objective reduction, which is proposed to produce moments of conscious choice. The theory is examined in light of developments in quantum physics, computational neuroscience, and quantum biology. The faster vibrations of microtubules are also considered as a possible source of the brain's EEG signals that correlate with consciousness.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Physics |
| Key finding | Proposes that conscious awareness arises from orchestrated objective reduction (Orch OR) of quantum states in neuronal microtubules. |
Abstract
We study biologically ‘orchestrated’ coherent quantum processes in collections of protein microtubules of brain neurons, which correlate with, and regulate, neuronal synaptic and membrane activity. In this situation the continuous Schrodinger evolution of each such process terminates in accordance with the specific Diosi-Penrose (DP) scheme of ‘objective reduction’ (‘OR’) of the quantum state. This orchestrated OR activity (‘Orch OR’) is taken to result in moments of conscious awareness and/or choice. We analyze Orch OR in light of advances and developments in quantum physics, computational neuroscience and quantum biology. Much attention is also devoted to the ‘beat frequencies’ of faster microtubule vibrations as a possible source of the observed electroencephalographic (‘EEG’) correlates of consciousness.