sales@yourdomain.com Tel: 01234 567890 HomeNewsNewsletterSitemap Introduction: 1 Penrose/Hameroff 1 Bernroider David Bohm QBD 1 Henry Stapp Other Quantum Freewill 1 General Articles 1 Key Articles 1 Mainstream 1 Quantum Evidence References 1 Cosmology Quantum computing Quantum Mind Blog Categories Introduction: 1 Introduction: 2 Penrose/Hameroff 1 Penrose & Hameroff 2 Penrose & Hameroff 3 Penrose & Hameroff 4 Penrose & Hameroff 5 Penrose & Hameroff 6 Bernroider David Bohm QBD 1 QBD 2 QBD 3 QBD 4 Henry Stapp Other Quantum Other Quantum 2 Other Quantum: 3 Freewill 1 Freewill 2 Freewill 3 General Articles 1 General Articles 2 General Articles 3 General Articles 4 Key Articles 1 Key Articles 2 Mainstream 1 Mainstream 2 Mainstream: 3 Quantum Evidence Quantum evidence 2 References 1 Reference 2 Reference 3 Reference 4 Reference 5 Reference 6 Reference 7 Cosmology Cosmology: 2 Quantum computing Quantum Mind Blog Nothing Nothing Enter keywords to search Search by keyword Consciousness & Quantum Theory 'The brain is wider than the sky For put them side by side The one the other will contain With Ease _____ and you _____ beside' Emily Dickinson This site attempts to provide a continuing survey of books, academic papers, articles, web sites and conferences relevant to quantum theories of consciousness. A compilation of references to academic material dealing with quantum theories of consciousness and in particular experiments and mathematical work that is relevant to it will be a central feature of the site. The Introduction/Hard Problem section is intended as a general description of the subject for any users not familiar with either modern theories of consciousness or quantum theory. Reviews of papers, articles and books cover most of the main theories of quantum consciousness, including the Penrose/Hameroff Orch OR theory, David Bohm's implicate order, Gustav Bernroider's ion channel theory, Henry Stapp's view of quantum consciousness and the various version of quantum brain dynamics. There is also a section examining experimental evidence for quantum consciousness. A General section covers articles etc. that are relevant to quantum consciousness, while the Mainstream section deals with conventional ideas on consciousness and rebuttals of quantum consciousness, for instance the ideas of Francis Crick, Christof Koch, Patricia Churchland and Daniel Dennett. Other sections deal with freewill, quantum computing and cosmology, the last having relevance to some quantum consciousness ideas, such as those of Penrose. Finally there is a quantum-mind blog. If you would like to receive notification of new material as it is placed on this site e-mail your request to:- pilgrim@blueyonder.co.uk If you would like comments to be posted on this site, e-mail your posting to:- pilgrim@blueyonder.co.uk   News:  Click here or above for new items (1.) Wider than the Sky - Gerald Edelman - added 23 July 2008 - Interesting in discussing computer analogy of the brain, the binding problem and the self, but leaves an explanatory gap when it attempts consciousness. (Under Mainstream: 3) (2.) The Goldilocks Enigma - Paul Davies - added 19 July 2008 - Opens the door a crack to the involvement of mind in the development of the universe. (3.) The Astonishing Hypothesis - Francis Crick - added 15 July 2008 - Crick's seminal book for mainstream consciousness theory revisited. (Under Mainstream 2 and General Articles 4) (4.) The Quantum-Like Brain - Andrei Khrennikov - added 9 July 2008 - Proposes that consciousness involves quantum algorithms running on classical biology. (Under Other Quantum Theories: 3) Other recent reviews: 1.) Descartes Error - Antonio Damasio - added July (2.) Mind-Like Universe - added 2 June Below is a list of items covered under various categories: Introduction: 1 General dicussion of consciousness/reasons for involving quantum theory & nature of quantum theory/Penrose & Hameroff model/Objections to quantum conciousness/Evidence for quantum coherence in biological tissue. Introduction: 2 Five Go Looking for Quantum Consciousness:  Summary of five main theories of quantum consciousness, Stapp's version, Quantum Brain Dynamics, David Bohm's Implicate Order/Penrose & Hameroff's Orch OR and Gustav Bernroider's proposal of quantum consciousness in ion channels. Penrose & Hameroff: 1 1.) The Emperor's New Mind:  Review of Penrose's seminal book on consciousness. The book outlines Penrose's arguments for why consciousness needs to be sought at the quantum level, but the proposed involvement of microtubules and other brain structures is not found in this book. 2.) Consciousness, Neurobiology & Quantum Mechanics:  Review of Hameroff's recent update on the Penrose/Hameroff model in 'The Emerging Physics of Consciousness. Reiterates the 20 proposed tests for their Orch OR theory. Penrose & Hameroff:  2 1.) Shadow's of the Mind:  Penrose's second book on consciousness, replying to critics of the first book, and outlining Hameroff's microtubule-based idea of how quantum consciousness could be instantiated in the brain. 2.) Ultimate Computing:  Hameroff's book on how information processing in biological tissue could involve microtubules. At this stage, Hameroff was discussing information processing rather than consciousness as such. 3.) The Large, the Small & the Human Mind:  Shorter, clearer summary of the ideas in Penrose's first two consciousness books, plus discussions with philosophers and physicists. 4.) Anesthesia & Consciousness: Hameroff's detailed discussion of the mechanism of anesthesia particularly in relation to hydrophobic pockets. 5.) Brainshy - Philosopher,Patricia Churchland's attack on the Penrose/Hameroff model. 6.) More Neural Than Thou:  A reply to Patricia Churchland   Penrose & Hameroff: 3 1.) Anesthesia, consciousness & hydrophobic pockets:  Discusses hydrophobic pockets and receptors relative to anesthesia. 2.) Conduction pathways in microtubules, biological quantum computation & consciousness:  Discusses the folding of protein and quantum computation. 3.) Quantum & classical modes of information processing in microtubules:  Discusses research into microtubule function considered to be suggestive of quantum processing. 4.) Gaps in Penrose's Toilings: Article by Grush and Garland: Criticises Penrose's arguments relative to the Godel theorem. Often quoted as being a descisive refutation of Penrose without mention of his reply to their article. 5.) Reply to Grush and Garland by Penrose and Hameroff:  Attempts to deal with the criticisms in their articles, but often ignored by popular commentators on quantum consciousness. 6.) Cytoskeletal involvement in neuronal learning:  Discusses experimental evidence for cognition and learning being linked to microtubules. 7. & 8.) Falsification of Penrose/Hameroff: Criticisms of microtubule model by Danko Georgiev 9.) Mathematical intelligence: Further criticism of Penrose's position on Godel 10.) Neural mechanism that randomnises behaviour:  R.H.S. Carpenter argues that the functioning of eye movements suggests quantum processing. 11.) Hybrid cognition:  Suggests that cognition involves Bose condensates Penrose & Hameroff: 4 1.) Path Ahead:  Discusses experimental evidence of the last decade as supportive to quantum consciousness being related to microtubules. 2.) Microtubules in the cerebral cortex:  Suggests that neurotransmitters act on microtubules. 3.) Dendritic cytoskeleton as a computational device: Microtubules and actin filaments in dendrites are suggested to have computational functions. 4.) Evidence for wavelike energy transfer through quantum coherence in photosynthetic systems:  Discusses recent evidence for quantum coherence in photosynthetic complexes. 5.) Photon echo experiments at Starlab: Proposed experiment to test for quantum coherence in the retina 6.) The brain is both neurocomputer and quantum computer: Hameroff replies to an attack on Orch OR published in Cognitive Neuroscience 7.) The geometry of π electron resonance clouds - Stuart Hameroff:  Detailed discussion of quantum mechanisms in biological tissue  8.) Connexin 36:  Discusses the effects of the absence of this protein in the brain Penrose & Hameroff: 5 1.) The importance of quantum decoherence in brain processes: Max Tegmark's often quoted refutation of quantum consciousness theories 2.) Quantum computation in brain microtubules:  Reply by Hagan, Hameroff and Tuszynski to Tegmark's article asserting that the speed of quantum decoherence made the Penrose/Hameroff model implausible. Popular accounts often highlight Tegmark's article without mention the reply to it. 3.) Hameroff's reply to Michael Shermers article in Scientific American dismissing quantum consciousness. 4.) Meditation and gamma synchrony 5.) Debate between Hameroff and Christof Koch relative to quantum consciousness. 6.) Orch OR model for consciousness by Hameroff & Penrose: Discusses possible quantum functioning of microtubules 7.) Conscious events as orchestrated spacetime selection:  Discusses Penrose's objective reduction idea and the ability of microtubules to support this process. Mentions experiment supportive of quantum coherence in biological tissue. 8.) Quantum computation in microtubules:   Discusses quantum computing and the possible role of protein in this. 9.) Consciousness, the brain & spacetime geometry:  Connection of gamma synchrony and gap junctions. 10.) Brian Josephson reviews Penrose's 'The Large, the Small and the Human Mind' 11.) Inflationary theory and the early universe: Penrose's arguments against currently fashionable theories of the early universe. Penrose & Hameroff: 6 1.) Experimental tests of quantum coherence in cytoskeletal protein:  Discusses experiments with reference to information processing in microtubules. 2.) Recurrent quantum neural networks:  Argues that quantum effects are needed to explain saccidic eye movements. 3.) Microtubules as a quantum Hopfield network: Discusses suitability of microtubules for quantum computing. 4.) Refutation of Penrose's Godelian Case: Despite the title, the main author supports Penrose in rejecting the idea of consciousness generated by classical computers. 5.) Beyond the doubting of a shadow: Penrose's reply to criticisms of 'Shadows of the Mind' in Psyche. 6.) Quantum computing in microtubules: More detail on possible quantum functioning of microtubules 7.) Funda-Mentality: Is the conscious mind linked to a basic level of the universe? Explores the proposed link between brain processes and the ground state of the universe. 8.) Quantum consciousness: Reply to Speir & Thomas Quantum consciousness in ion channels 1.) Introduction 2.) Entanglement of K+ Ions: Gustav Bernroider of Salzburg University proposes a form of quantum consciousness in ion channels that involves the core mechanism of the traditional neuronal theory. David Bohm & the Implicate Order 1) Introduction:  Summarises Bohm's ideas relative to the implicate order. 2.) Information, quantum theory and brain:  Basil Hiley discusses the Bohm idea of active information 3.) Brain & mathematics:  Karl Pribram argues that neural processes may be based on quantum rules. 4.) Mind, Matter & Active Information: Clearer explanation of Bohm's theory of consciousness 5.) Consciousness in Bohm's ontology: 6.) Are our spaces made of words? - Jonathan Edwards: Close to Bohmian ideas. Interchange of fundamental processes gives rise to active information and consciousness. Solution to binding problem may involve a system of integration analogous to words in language. QBD: 1 1.) Introduction:  Summarises the main ideas in quantum brain dynamics (QBD). 2.) Quantum Brain Dynamics & Consciousness:  Modern development of Umezawa'sseminal ideas on quantum brain dynamics.  QBD: 2 My Double Unveiled:  This is Vitiello's take on QBD, but with an apparently different view from Jibu and Yasue as to how consciousness actually arises. QBD: 3 1.) Psycho-emotional physical unity of living organisms:  Del Giudice develops a theory of coherent domains related to the electromagnetic force. This is suggested to provide a bridge between physics and biology. 2.) Dual mode ontology:  Gordon Globus argues that the brain can perform functions that are beyond conventional computers. However, he is critical of some aspects of Vitiello's 'My Double Unveiled'. 3.) Quantum connectionism & the emergence of cognition:  The author argues that idea of cognition based on emergent properties can only work within quantum field theory. 4.) Quantum brain dynamics and quantum field theory:  This article provides a rather less muddled view of Jibu and Yasue's development of quantum brain dynamics. 5.) Self, cognition, qualia and world in quantum brain dynamics:  Gordon Globus argues that a quantum level of functioning in the brain would make it easier to explain consciousness. QBD: 4 1.) The Physiological Basis and Quantum Versions of Memory and Consciousness:  Discusses excitatory/inhibitory structures in the brain/dendrites/microtubules/gap junctions/astrocytes and relates to QBD version of quantum consciousness. Henry Stapp 1.) Introduction:  Summarises Stapp's version of quantum consciousness 2.) Attention, intention and will in quantum physics:  Short version of Stapp's ideas on quantum consciousness. 3.& 4.) Quantum leap in philosophy of mind:   Bourget's attack on Stapp's ideas and Stapp's reply. 5.) The Hard Problem: A Quantum Approach:  Stapp's response to David Chalmer's ideas on consciousness. Other Quantum Theories of Consciousness 1.) Quantum cosmology and the hard Problem:  Chris King favours the transactional theory for explaining problems of non-locality in quantum theory, and sees the combination of transactional theory and quantum computing as a route to explaining consciousness. 2.) Are virtual photons the elementary carriers of consciousness:  The author argues that subjectivity is coded into virtual photons. 3.,4 & 5.) Cemi Field:  These articles develop the theory that disturbances in the brain's electromagnetic field form the substrata of consciousness.  4.) Are our spaces made of words? - Jonathan Edwards: Close to Bohmian ideas. Interchange of fundamental processes gives rise to active information and consciousness. Solution to binding problem may involve a system of integration analogous to words in language. Other Quantum Theories of Consciousness: 2 1.) Quantum consciousness: Arguments against mainstream theories of consciousness 2.) Consciousness and non-heirarchical physics: Qualia are related to entanglement between the brain and the external world. 3.) Quantum mechanics, consciousness & the self:  Chris Clarke's theory based on a non-local relationship between the brain and the external world. 4.) Mind, Brain & the Quantum: Focuses on relativity, time and consciousness. Other Quantum Theories of Consciousness: 3 1.) The Quantum-Like Mind  -  Andrei Krennikov  -  Proposes that consciousness involves quantum algorithms running on classical biological processes Freewill: 1 1.) The volitional brain:  This is an introduction to a series of articles. In this Libet, Freeman and Sutherland take the view that increased information about the brain will be interpretated in relation to a determinstic paradigm. 2.) Towards a functional anatomy of volition:  Examines brain regions involved in freewill, and proposes that there is an evolutionary advantage in having the experience of freewill. 3.) On volition:  Discusses studies of willed acts and the suppression of thoughts that could disrupt willed acts. 4.) Primate basal ganglia & voluntary control of behaviour:  Discusses experiments to determine the neural processes underlying goal-directed behaviour. 5.) Do we have freewill?  Libet here discusses his own experiments relative to freewill. 6.) Volition & the readiness potential:  Libet's and other experiments discussed from a deterministic point of view. 7.)  Volition and physical laws:  Argues that volition might have limited and indirect effects in the brain. Freewill: 2 1.) Volition & attention:  Jeffrey Schwartz argues from experience of clinical practise that conscious will can be used to combat OCD. 2.) Attention, intention & will in quantum physics:  Develops Stapp's version of quantum consciousness relative to freewill. 3.) Hume's mistake:  The author feels that examination of the reasons for a choice never provides a full explanation. An additional decisional effort is required, but it is not clear where this comes from. 4.) Consciousness, free action and the brain:  John Searle is another commentator who feels that in decision making, the actual reasons for action are not by themselves sufficient, and an additional act of will to make up the subject's mind is required. 5.) Mind-Time:  This is Libet's book providing an overview of his experiments with regard to consciousness and freewill. Freewill: 3 1. & 2.) Conscious attention & brain activity/Reclaiming volition:  Both articles criticise the interpretation of the Libet freewill experiments. 3.) The Neuroscience of movement - Susan Pockett - Relates to freewill, bodily movements and the Libet experiments. 4.) Free choice & the human brain - Richard Passingham & Hakwan Lau - Discusses brain states relative to the Libet experiments. 5.) Where's the action? Epiphenomenalism and the problem of freewill  -  Attacks Libet's approach to the problem of freewill. 6.) Empirical constraints on the problem of freewill - Criticises Daniel Wegner's attempt to show that freewill is illusory 7.) Towards a dynamic theory of consciousness - Elizabeth Pacherie - Criticises both Libet's and Wegner's approach to the problem of freewill 8.) Phemenology & the feeling of doing: Wegner on the conscious will - Tim Bayne - Criticises Wegner's attempt to show that conscious will is illusory. General Articles: 1 - Books and articles related to quantum theories of consciousness 1.) Evidence supporting information processing in animals:  Argues that the speed of processing in human and animal brains requires quantum rather than classical computing. 2.) Space, time and consciousness:  John Smythies argues that recent experiments support the scientific representative theory under which knowledge and consciousness are different processes, and perception is the result of a probability-based computation. 3.) The status of blindsight:  Argues against various attempts to explain away blindsight. 4.) Blindsight in debates about qualia:  Discusses the various ways in which Dennett and others try to evade the implications of blindsight. 5.) Mental presence & the temporal present:  Connects a lack of a role for the present moment in science with the lack of a role for consciousness. 6.) Can quantum analogies help us to understand the process of thought?  Discusses Bohm's ideas in relation to thought processes. 7.) Quantum approaches to consciousness:  Atmanspacher summarises the main quantum consciousness theories. 8.) Facing up to the problem of consciousness:  Chalmers summarises his ideas on consciousness. 9.) Nine lives plus One: Hello Kitty!  Proposes a new solution to the Schrodinger cat problem, which would refute a version of decoherence theory in which the wave function never occurs. General Articles: 2 1.) Investigation of unconscious perception:  Argues that conscious and unconscious perception are qualitavely different. 2.) Putting the puzzle together:  Discusses the role of gamma synchrony and the reticular area in the thalamus. 3.) Emergence & the mind-body problem:  Relates consciousness to unified physics. 4.) Rhythms of the Brain:  Describes the excitatory/inhibitory oscillation between pyramidal neurons and interneurons. 5.) A quantum theory of the origin of life on Earth:  Argues that quantum processes might have triggered the origin of life on Earth. 6.) Inflationary theory and the early universe: Discusses Penrose's arguments against inflationary theory, which tends to be popular as a way of dispensing with the need for a prime mover at the beginning of the universe 7.) Now you see it, now you don't: Criticism of domination of biology by the cell doctrine 8.) Quantum mechanics in the brain: Muddled criticism of quantum consciousness by Koch and Hepp General Articles: 3 1.) Godel & Turing - Chaitin 2.) The knowledge argument and the inadequacy of scientific thinking - Chaitin: Discussion of the 'Mary, the colour scientist' question. 3.) The Myths We Live By - Mary Midgley - Criticises mainstream scientific attitudes to the mind-body problem General Articles: 4 1.) Descartes' Error - Antonio Damasio - Discusses the role of emotions and bodily feelings in reasoning processes. 2.) The Astonishing Hypothesis - Francis Crick - Revisits Crick's seminal book for mainstream consciousness theory 3.) The Goldilocks Enigma - Paul Davies - Opens the door a crack to the involvement of mind in the development of the universe. Key Articles: 1 Contains the most important articles from all categories:- 1.) Anaesthesia & consciousness:  Hameroff argues that the mode of action of anaesthetics is suggestive of quantum processes. 2.) Quantum & classical modes of information processing in microtubules:  Argues that tubulins could be bits in a calculating process. 3.) Reply to Grush & Garland:  Penrose & Hameroff claim that Grush and Garland's arguments against Orch OR are misleading. Interesting because popular commentators tend to quote Grush & Garland and conclusive without mentioning this reply. 4.) More Neural than thou:  Hameroff replies to Patricia Churchland's criticisms of Orch-OR. Again Churchland tends to be quoted without reference to the reply. 5.) A neural mechanism that randomises behaviour:  R.H.S. Carpenter argues that the response of the eyes to stimuli indicates randomisation of neural processes consistent with the Penrose/Hameroff model. 6.) Microtubules in the cerebral cortex: Role in memory & consciousness:  Examines the connections between microtubules and other components of the neuron. 7.) Consciousness, neurobiology & quantum mechanics:  Can be seen as Hameroff's update of the situation regarding Orch-OR, and reiterates the 20 tests that could falsify Orch OR. 8.) The dendritic cytoskeleton as a computational device:  Examines the role of microtubules and actin in the dendritic cytoskeleton with regard to neural computation. Key Articles: 2 1.) Mind-Like Universe: Based on Paul Davies's 'Universes Galore' - Explores possible integration of mind into the physical universe 2.) A quantum theory of the origin of life on Earth:  Proposes that some form of quantum computation was necessary to assemble molecules into the replicators that started life on Earth. 3.) Entanglement in K+ Ion Channels:  Gustav Bernroider's theory of consciousness in ion channels.  4.) Wavelike energy transfer in photosynthetic systems 5.) The Ascent of Life - Paul Davies: Discusses the possibility of quantum processes in biological tissue.  Mainstream: 1  Books and articles related to mainstream consciousness theory 1.) Consciousness Explained:  Daniel Dennett's book dominates a large part of conventional modern thinking on consciousness. 2.) Consciousness: An introduction:  A clearly written exposition of conventional ideas on consciousness. Ideas are mainly Dennett. 3.) Dennett & the deep blue sea:  Article attacking Dennett, claiming that he describes the conventional understanding of the mind, and then asks us to assume that the structure as described would be conscious. 4.) How could conscious experience affect brains?  Outlines Velman's theory of three types of representation: the external world, the body and brain states. Unconscious processing is both free and deterministic in his view. 5.) Facing backwards on the problem of consciousness:  Dennett's attack on Chalmers position on consciousness. 6.) The why of consciousness:  Attack on Chalmers Mainstream 2 1.) The Feeling of What Happens - Antonio Damasio:  Discussion of the role of emotions and their relationship to the Self. 2.) What are the neuronal correlates of consciousness? - Crick & Koch 3.) Brainshy - Patricia Churchland 4.) Quantum mechanics in the brain: Muddled criticism of quantum consciousness by Koch & Hepp 5.) The Astonishing  Hypothesis - Francis Crick - Revisits this seminal book on mainstream consciousness. Mainstream: 3 1.) Wider than the Sky - Gerald Edelman:  Interesting on brain/computer ananlogy, binding problem and the self, but leaves an explanatory gap when it attempts consciousness. Quantum Evidence 1.) Coherent control of isomerisation 2.) Pizzi experiment 3.) Protons as neurotransmitters 4.) A neural mechanism that randomises behaviour 5.) Consciousness, neurobiology & quantum mechanics 6.) Quantum coherence in photosynthetic systems 7.) Quantum effects in cytoskeletal proteins 8.) Photon echo experiments at Starlab: Proposed experiment to test for quantum coherence in the retina 9.) The Ascent of Life - Paul Davies: Discusses the possibility of quantum processes in biological tissue.  Quantum Evidence 2 1.) The ascent of life - Paul Davies 2.) Quantum coherence demonstrated in the brain - Stuart Hameroff: Discusses coherence of spin of nuclei in the brain under artificial conditions 3.) Magnetic quantum coherence in muscle contraction - K. Matsuno  Cosmology 1.) Mind-Like Universe - Based On Paul Davies's 'Universes Galore' - Explores possible integration of mind into the physical universe. 2.) Loop Quantum Gravity 3.) Inflationary theory & the early universe: Penrose's arguments against currently fashionable theories of the early universe. 4.) Is our universe natural: Discussion of inflation and theories related to the early universe. 5.) The cosmic origins of time's arrow - Sean Carroll: - Discusses the problem of low entropy in the early universe. 6.) The Trouble with Physics - Lee Smolin - Discusses the problems with string theory and looks at alternative ways of understanding spacetime, which is important to the Bohm and Penrose approaches to consciousness. 7.) Multiverses: description, uniqueness, testing - George Ellis - Further criticism of multiverse theory 8.) Alternatives to the Anthropic Principle (Introduction to Cosmological Natural Selection) - Lee Smolin 9.) Inflation Deflated - Contra indications for inflationary theory, which could be a problem for multiverse theories Cosmology: 2 1.) The Goldilocks Enigma - Paul Davies - Opens the door a crack to the involvement in the development of the universe. Quantum Computing 1.) Dancing the quantum dream - Foundation of quantum computing 2.) Rules for a complex quantum world - Aspects of quantum computing, including quantum error correction. 3.) The fall of the machines ( or 'all you need to know about robots): Michio Kaku's take on why artificial intelligence hasn't progressed much. References: 1 Listed by subject: A-S References: 2 Listed by subject: T-Z References: 3 Listed by author: A-P References: 4 References to Penrose/Hameroff Orch OR theory References: 5 References to Gustav Bernroider's theory of consciousness in ion channels References: 6 References to evidence for quantum coherence in biological tissue References: 7 References by author R-Z   Subscribe to our newsletter and you'll receive regular emails keeping you up to date on our latest news, special offers and exclusive member only deals! quantummind Number 2, Your Street, Smallville, Countyshire, NW3 1SS, United Kingdom - Show map - Tel: 01234 567890 Email: sales@yourdomain.com Copyright © quantummind 2008. Web design by 7Soft.co.uk.