Gordon Globus suffers from a particularly opaque style of writing. However this paper does throw some light on quantum brain dynamics. Globus argues that if the brain has quantum degrees of freedom it ought to be able to do things that a conventional computer cannot do. In the 1960s Umezawa proposed the idea of the tilda universe, which is the brain’s representation of the external world. Globus points out that the interchange between Umezawa’s tilda universe and the conventional universe happens in the vacuum state.
Umezawa had rules to govern this exchange. The non-tilda universe is the universe of conventional physics. The non-tilda universe is the physical object, while the tilda universe represents subjective experience. The match or exchange between the external non-tilda world and the inner tilda world is seen as producing the experience of consciousness or subjectivity. It is stressed that the tilda world is not itself consciousness or even the self. The self is seen as an attunement to the tilda world, which in line with the quantum world contains fluctuating possibilities.
Globus refers at length to Vitiello’s 2001 book, ‘My Double Unveiled’. For Vitiello, informational inputs from the external world are recorded in the non-tilda world, and then copied to the tilda world, which is the 'double' referred to in the title of his book. Consciousness is the interaction between the tilda and the non-tilda within the vacuum state. This is where consciousness is grounded. The subject or subjective is the interaction between the tilda and the non tilda mode.
Globus is critical of the Vitiello interpretation. If the tilda version is just a straight copy of non-tilda, the dialogue or interaction between the two will not be very interesting. Globus seems to favour some more direct experience of the external world, but one thart is still based on similar physical structures to those described by Vitiello.
In this version, the theory seems to come down to saying that consciousness is a property of the vacuum state. This brings it quite close to Penrose, who makes a consciousness a property or coding of the geometry of spacetime. QBD seems less elegant in requiring first a copying from the external to the internal and then a relationship between the two, plus a somewhat a nebulous bridge to the quantum state. However, both theories have the same gist, which is that consciousness is a property of the fundamental level of the universe.
Derrida, J. (1981) Dissemination University of Chicago Press
Fröhlich, H. (1968) Long-range coherence in biological systems Journal of Quantum Chemistry, 2, 641-649
Globus, G. (2003) Quantum closures and disclosures John Benjamins
Heidegger, M. (1999) Contributions to philosophy Indiana University Press
Jibu, M. & Yasue, K. (1995) Quantum brain dynamics and consciousness John Benjamins
Penrose, R. (1994) Shadows of the Mind Oxford University Press
Plotnitsky, A. (2002) The knowable and the unknowable Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press
Ricciardi, L. & Umezawa, H. (1967) Brain and physics of many body problems Kybernetik, 4, 44-8
Umezawa, H. (1993) Advanced field theory: Micro, macro and therma physics American Institute of Physics
Umezawa, H. (1995) Development in concepts in QFT Mathematical Japonica, 41, 109-124
Vitiello, G. (2001) My Double Unveiled John Benjamins
Eliano Pessa
Dept. of Psychology, University of Pavia
Quantum connectionism and the emergence of cognition
In Globus, G., Pribram, H. & Vitiello, G. Eds. Brain and Being John Benjamins
The author argues that the idea of cognition being based on emergent properties can only work if quantum field theory (QFT) is involved in the process. This idea is described as quantum connectionism. Pessa emphasises the distinction between quantum mechanics (QM) and quantum field theory (QFT). She considers the former to be unsuitable for the brain because of the familiar problem of rapid decoherence in the brain’s environment.
In QFT the main physical entities are fields rather than particles, and these persist in everyday temperatures and environments. Pessa suggests that symmetry breaking within QFT can produce collective excitations and particles carrying long-range interactions known as Goldstone bosons (Umezawa, 1993) (1) In these circumstances, peterburations can be transmitted through the system over a long range. The transmission is by means of the Goldstone bosons. They are macroscopic coherent entities that are stable in the face of perterbation. Bosons, such as phonons in crystals and magnons in ferromagnets, have now been experimentally detected.
References:-
(1) Umezawa, H. (1993) Advanced Field Theory: Micro, Macro and Thermal Physcis American Institute of Physics
(2) Stein, D. (1980) Dissipative structures, broken symmetry and the theory of equilibrium phase transitions Journal of Chemical Physics, 72, 2869-2874
(3) Rumer et al (1980) Thermal dynamics, statistical physics and kinetics Mir
Anderson, P. (1981) Broken symmetry in driven systems In Nicolis, G., Dewel & Turner, P. eds. Equilibrium and non-equilibrium statistical mechanics pp. 289-297 Wiley
Anderson, P. & Stein, D. (1985) Broken symmetry In Yates, F. ed. Self Organising Systems, pp. 445-457 Plenum Press
Celeghini, E., Rasetti, M., & Vitiello, G. (1992) Quantum dissipation Annals of Physics, 215, 156-170
Gupta, S. & Zia, R. (2001) Quantum Neural Networks Journal of Computer and System Sciences, 63, pp. 355-383
Jibu, M. & Yasue, K. (1995) Quantum Brain Dynamics and Consciousness Benjamins
Jibu, M. & Yasue, K. (1997) Magic without magic Journal of Mind and Behaviour, 18, 205-228
Pribram, K. Ed. (1993) Rethinking neural networks Erlbaum
Ricciardi, L & Umezawa, H. (1967) Brain and physics of many-body problems Kybernetik, 4, pp. 44-48
Vitiello, G. (2001) My Double Unveiled Benjamins
Mari Jibu & Kunio Yasue
Notre Dame Seishin University
Quantum brain dynamics and quantum field theory
In Globus, G., Pribram, H. & Vitiello, G. Eds. Brain and Being John Benjamins
This paper is a rather clearer approach to quantum brain dynamics than was achieved in the authors earlier book, ‘Quantum brain dynamics and consciousness', although some of the same tendency to confusing repetition is apparent here as well.
The authors state that the fundamental processes of the brain can be described in terms of quantum field theory (QFT) and more spcifically in terms of quantum electrodynamics (QED). A theory based solely on membrane potential differences and ion channels is felt to fail in several respects. Stemming from Umezawa, Ricciardi and Stuart the theory suggests the existence of a microscopic sytems in addition to the standard neuron electric potential system. They assume a quantum system which interacts with the conventional macroscopic system. They suggest that the ordering of the brain is based on long-range correlations mediated by Goldstone bosons.
Most non-living matter on any large scale can be described by quantum statistical mechanics. Macroscopic matter in thermal equilibrium is seen as having its atomic ingredients in an uncorrelated state, where quantum statistical mechanics provides an approximation. Medical and biological sciences find their foundation in the same area. It tends to be forgotten that quantum statistical mechanics is only an approximation.
The authors suggest that there are strong correlations between the ingredients of living matter, which are missing in the case of non-living matter. The distinctive feature of living matter is the reduction in entropy and the increase in order. A system is needed to describe atomic ingredients in strong correlation. The physcisist, Umezawa, was one of the first to emphasise this point in the 1960s (Ricciardi & Umezawa, 1967). (1)
He emphasised the Goldstone mode for complex systems with strong correlations. This is in contrast to non-living systems that have few correlations. In the same period Fröhlich suggested that long-range coherent features could play a role in energy storage in biological systems (Fröhlich, 1968). A coherent dipolar wave is suggested to exist in the cytoskeleton, and to exchange energy with the surrounding electromagnetic field. The wave propagation represents many dipolar oscillations in chains of protein molecules. The energy is suggested not to be thermalised but to be stored in an ordered fashion.
The cytoplasm comprises a complex arrangement of protein and water molecules. It contains a dense network of protein filaments surrounded by water molecules. So we have a dense network of protein filaments surrounded by and interacting with water molecules. This system is suggested to have long-range correlations. Water has a permanent dipole, due the arrangement of the hydrogen and oxygen atoms. The field on each protein filament is suggested to propagate into the surrounding water molecules. The electric dipole field is suggested to span the whole of the brain tissue. The corticons, the basic quanta of this system, are the water dipole moment surrounding the protein filament.
The total energy of a field in quantum field theory is important for determining the dynamics of the field and is called the Hamiltonian. The total energy of the corticons is the Hamiltonian of the corticons. The minimum of the Hamiltonian is the vacuum state. The vacuum state involves a symmetry breaking, because the corticons all fall to a uniform configuration, all aligned along the same direction, breaking the original order. This creates long-range order or a macroscopic ordered state. The Goldstone theorem shows that in a macroscopic ordered state there are long wave correlation waves mediated by bosons known as Goldstone bosons.
References:-
(1) Ricciardi, L. & Umezawa, H. (1967) Brain and physics of many-body problems Kybernetik, 4, 44
Del Giudice, E., Doglia, S. & Milani, M. (1982) Collective dynamics in active cells Physics Letters, 90A, pp. 104-106
Del Giudice, E., Doglia, S., Milani, M. & Vitiello, G. (1985) A quantum field approach to the collective behaviour of biological systems Nuclear Physics, B251, pp. 375-400
Del Giudice, E., Doglia, S., Milani, M. & Vitiello, G. (1986) Symmetry breaking in biological matter Nuclear Physics, B275, pp. 185-199
Del Giudice, E., Preparata, E., & Vitiello, G. (1988) Water as a dipole laser Physical Review Letters, 61, pp. 1085-1088
Del Giudice, E., Doglia, S., Milani, M. & Vitiello, G. (1992) Dynamical mechanism for cytoskeleton structures In Bender, M. Ed. Interfacial phenomena in biological systems
Eccles, J. (1986) Do mental events cause neural events anologously to the probability fields of quantum mechanics? Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, B277, 411-428
Fröhlich, H. (1968) Long-range coherence in biological systems International Journal of Quantum Chemistry, 2, pp. 641-649
Hameroff, S. (1987) Ultimate Computing North Holland
Jibu, M. (2001) Pressure reversal of anesthesia Medical Hypotheses, 56, pp. 26-32
Jibu, M. & Yasue, K. (1993) Intracellular quantum signal transfer Cybernetics and Systems, 24, pp. 1-7
Jibu, M. & Yasue, K. (1995) Quantum brain dynamics John Benjamins
Jibu, M. & Yasue, K. (1997a) Quantum field theory in brain as theory of consciousness Informatica, 21, pp. 471-490
Jibu, M. & Yasue, K. (1997b) Meaning of quantum brain dynamics Journal of Mind and Behaviour, 18, pp. 205-228
Jibu, M., Hagan, S., Hameroff, S., Pribram, K. & Yasue, K. (1994) Qunatum optical coherence in microtubules Biosystems, 32, pp. 195-209
Jibu, M., Pribram, K. & Yasue, K. (1996) The role of quantum brain dynamics International Journal of Modern Physics, B10, pp. 1745-1754
Jibu, M., Yasue, K. & Hagan, S. (1997) Photon and ceelular vision Biosystems, 42, pp. 65-73
Penrose, R. (1989) The Emperor’s New Mind Oxford University Press
Penrose, R. (1994) Shadows of the Mind Oxford University Press
Pribram, K. (1991) Brain and Perception Lawrence Erlbaum
Ricciardi, L. & Umezawa, H. (1967) Brain and physics of many-body problems Kybernetik, 4, 44
Umezawa, H. (1993) Micro, macro and thermal physics American Institute of Physics
Vitiello, G. (2001) My Double Unveiled John Benjamins
Self, Cognition, Qualia and World in Quantum Brain Dynamics
Gordon Globus
Journal of Consciousness Studies, 5, No. 1, 1998, pp. 34-52
Globus starts by pointing out that if the brain were found to have a quantum level of functioning involving superpositions and non-local correlations, then it would become easier to deal with the problem of consciousness. In this article, Globus assumes that neural tissue has a quantum level of functioning and that the ‘vague’ term consciousness is ‘unpacked’ into ‘self’, ‘cognition’, ‘qualia’ and his hard of comprehend term ‘throwness in the world’.
Globus questions the assumption of the objective existence of the external world, instead suggesting that this may be an illusion. He regards the believe in the objective world, or ‘world in common’ as he calls it, as an entrenched barrier to dealing with the hard problem of consciousness.
Yasue, Jibu et al have developed a version of quantum neurodynamics based on quantum field theory (QFT). Jibu and Yasue draw a distinction between quantum physics in living and non-living matter. Non-living matter can be described by quantum mechanics, but QFT is needed to describe living systems. Silicon-based systems would not be described in this way. QBD is based on the vacuum or lowest energy states. The quanta of these lowest states form Bose-Einstein condensation over macroscopic regions. Jibu and Yasue view water molecules held in various quasi-crystalline structures in the brain as quantum mechanical spinning tops. These are dipoles with positive and negatively charged poles. Interaction between this dipoles form a quantum field. Water molecules are suggested to enter a quasi-crystalline form called ordered water in which they can spin coherently in several directions. The water dipole field is supposed to give rise to condensates. The neurons have a dense web of protein filaments forming the cytoskeleton, the best known of which are the microtubules. Some of the filaments extend outside the neuron. Protein molecules which comprise the filaments oscillate between different conformations, and incoming energy is converted into solitons that propagate along the filaments, as the collective mode of many dipolar oscillations. The energy pattern of sensory input induces solitons in the protein filaments and these in turn provide a representation of physical reality.
Globus goes onto to discuss the vexed question of measurement/quantum wave collapse. In mathematical terms the move from quantum and unobservable to classical with observable particles requires that the imaginary dimension and numbers of the mathematics must be replaced by real numbers related to observables. The normal and rather arbitrary way of getting rid of the imaginaries is the Born postulate that involves multiplying a complex number by its complex conjugate. But it is suggested that QBD has a better way of getting back to the real numbers. The idea seems to involve physical reality on one side and cognition and memory on the other side, in the complex numbers and complex conjugates that together produce a quantum reality.
The brain is suggested to produce quantum fields which interact with a conjugate mental reality. It has to be said that the theory feels like a stretch even for those sympathetic to quantum consciousness. The complex numbers and conjugates are abstractions which make it possible to perform calculations in quantum theory. It seems highly arbitrary to make them represent larger scale physical realities. Furthermore the cut made between physical reality and mental reality looks dubious in that we think that cognition and memory are at least partly coded by classical physical structures.
Globus moves on to try and ‘unpack’ consciousness. Self-agency is viewed as control exercised through cognitive acts, and cognitive can mean quantum cognitive. Globus sees the processing of the brain as a spontaneous eruption of superposed possibilities steered by the tuning of these possibilities. Brain processing is not viewed as rule following. It would seem that the actual experience of the world, confusingly described as ‘actual thrown in the world existence’ arises from these interactions in the brain. The external world is seen as a private projection of each brain, and the assumption of an objective world that we share in common is seen as an illusion.
Globus goes onto discuss the question of qualia, which somewhat exposes the weakness of this version of quantum consciousness. He seems to be reduces to viewing qualia as a brute fact, with no more special connection to the quantum world, than conventional neuroscience has to qualia via its axon/synapse orthodoxy.
References:-
Alexander, D. & Globus, G. (1993) Edge of chaos dynamics in brain systems in Ed. MacCormac, P. & Stamenov, M. Fractals of Brain, Fractal of Mind John Benjamins
Andrews, M. et al (1997) Interference between two bose condensates Science, 275, pp. 637-40
Davydov, A. (1978) Solitons in molecular systems Physica Scripta, 20, pp. 387-94
Feigl, H. (1967) The Mental and the Physical University of Minnesota Press
Fröhlich, H. (1968) Coherence and energy storage in biological sytems International Journal of Quantum Chemistry, 2, pp. 641-9
Globus, G. (1987) Dream Life, Wake Life University of New York Press
Globus, G. (1989) The Strict Identity in Ed. Maxwell, M. & Savage, C. Science, Mind and Philosophy University Press of America
Globus, G. (1992) Non-computational cognitive neuroscience Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 4, pp. 319-30
Globus, G. (1995a) The Post Modern Brain John Benjamins
Globus, G. (1995b) Cognition, self and observation in QBD In Ed. Pylkkanen, P. & Pylkko, P. New Directions in Cognitive Science Finnish Artificial Intelligence Society
Globus, G. (1995c) Explaining consciousness in quantum terms in Ed. Pylkkanen, P. et al Brain, Mind and Physics IOS Press
Globus, G. Nonlinear brain systems Journal of Mind and Behaviour
Jibu, M. & Yasue, K. (1992) A physical picture of Umezawa’s QBD In Ed. Trappl, R. Cybernetics and Systems Research, vol I World Scientific
Jibu, M. & Yasue, K. (1993a) Intracellular quantum signal transfer Cybernetics and Systems, 24, pp. 1-7
Jibu, M. & Yasue, K. (1993b) Introduction to QBD In Ed. Carvallo, M. Nature, Cognition and System Kluwer Academic Publishers
Jibu, M. et al (1994) Quantum optical coherence in microtubules Biosystems, 32, pp. 195-209
Jibu, M. & Yasue, K. (1995) QBD and Consciousness John Benjamins
Jibu, M., Pribram, K. & Yasue, K. (1996) QBD & boson condensation International Journal of Modern Physics B
Marshall, I (1989) Consciousness and Bose-Einstein condensates New Ideas in Psychology, 7, pp. 73-83
Ricciardi, L. & Umezawa, H. (1967) Brain & physics of many body problems Kybernetic, 4, p. 44
Stuart, C., Takahashi, Y. & Umezawa, H. (1978) Stability and non-local properties of memeory Journal of Theoretical Biology, 71, p. 605
Stuart, C., Takahashi, Y. & Umezawa, H. (1979) Memory as a macroscopic ordered state Foundations of Physics, 9, p. 301
Umezawa, H. (1993) Micro, macro and thermal physics American Institute of Physics
Vitiello, G. (1995) Dissipation & memory in QBD International Journal of Modern Physics B, 9, pp. 973-89
Yasue, K. et al (1988) Stochastic neurodynamics Annals of the Institute of Statistical Mechanics, 40, pp. 41-59
Yasue, K., Jibu, M. & Pribram, K. (1991) Appendis to Pribram’s Brain & Perception Erlbaum
Coherent quantum electrodynamics in living matter
Del Giudice, E. & Vitiello, G. et al
INFN & University of Salerno
Del Giudice considers that classical physics cannot explain the ordering of biological matter. He particularly stresses the problem of how chemical energy can be translated into mechanical energy in a biological system. He argues on the basis of the Carnot theorem, that in living matter this process would not have an efficiency of greater than 1%, whereas an efficiency of 50% is required. The need for some collective dynamic in biomolecules is thus based on thermodynamic principles.
In classical physics, objects oscillate if a force is applied, but in quantum physic it is the nature of particles to oscillate. Fröhlich (1), Hepp & Lieb, (2) and Preparata, (3) have all explored the possibility of biological coherence. Coherent fluctuations can become coupled with the electromagnetic field. In particular, Fröhlich thought that coherence might play a major part in the dynamics of enzymes.
The role of bound or ordered water is seen as important to biomolecules. In the presence of a protein chain, water molecules have their dipoles aligned with the dipoles of the biomolecules in the chain. The coherent oscillation of the water molecules is changed from being a three dimensional liquid to a one dimensional chain aligned to the biomolecules. This chain of water molecules attracts a second chain of ordered water further out and so on, although the ordering force diminishes as the layers move away from the original protein. Any excitation arising in the protein itself is trapped in it by the ordered water and forced to move in the direction of the protein. This process is viewed as a starting point for improved understanding of biological matter.
References:-
1.) Fröhlich, H. Long-range coherence and energy storage in biological systems International Journal of Quantum Chemistry, 1968, 2(5), pp. 641-9
2.) Hepp, K. & Lieb, E. Superradiant phase transition for molecules in a quantised radiation field Annals of Physics, (1973), 76, pp. 360-404
3.) Preparata, G. QED coherence in matter World Scientific (1995)
Del Giudice, E. et al Hamiltonian and superradiant phase transition Mod. Physical Letters B (1993), 7, pp. 1851-5
Del Giudice, E. & Preparata, G. et al Superradiance In: Macroscopic Quantum Phenomena, Eds. Clarke, T. et al World Scientific (1991) pp.167-173
Del Giudice, E. & Doglia, S. et al Electromagnetic interactions in living matter In: Biological Coherence and Response to External Stimuli Ed. Fröhlich, H. Springer Verlag (1988) pp. 49-84
Del Giudice, E. & Preparata, G. Coherent dynamics in water and membrane formation Journal of Biological Physics, (1994), 20, pp. 105-6
Del Giudice, E. & Preparata, G. A new QED picture of water In: Macroscopic Quantum Coherence Eds. Sassaroli, E. et al World Scientific (1998), pp. 108-129