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A Historical View of the Relation Between Quantum Mechanics and the Brain: A NeuroQuantologic Perspective

Sultan Tarlacı

NeuroQuantology March 4, 2010 DOI: 10.14704/nq.2010.8.2.278 (opens in new tab)

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AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed
Citations 33
Key points Argues that mind and matter cannot be sharply separated, so the dispute between neuroscientists and physicists over quantum mechanics and consciousness is misguided. Proposes that the brain is a mixed physical system combining a macroscopic neuron system with a microscopic quantum mechanical many-body system that interacts with it.

Abstract

Over the past decade, discussions of the roles that quantum mechanics might or might not play in the theory of consciousness/mind have become increasingly sharp. One side of this debate stand conventional neuroscientists who assert that brain science must look to the neuron for understanding, and on the other side are certain physicists, suggesting that the rules of quantum theory might influence the dynamics of consciousness/mind. However, consciousness and mind are not separate from matter. Submicroscopic world of the human brain give rise to consciousness, mind. We are never able to make a sharp separation between mind and matter. Thus ultimately there is no “mind” that can be separated from “matter” and no “matter” that can be separated from “mind”. The brain as a mixed physical system composed of the macroscopic neuron system and an additional microscopic system. The former consists of pathway conduction of neural impulses. The latter is assumed to be a quantum mechanical many-body system interacting with the macroscopic neuron system.

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