In neuroscience, quantum brain dynamics (QBD) is a hypothesis to explain the function of the brain within the framework of quantum field theory.
As described by Harald Atmanspacher,[1] since quantum theory is the most fundamental theory of matter that is currently available, it is a legitimate question to ask whether quantum theory can help us to understand consciousness.[2]
Large systems, such as those studied biologically, have less symmetry than the idealized systems or single crystals often studied in physics. Jeffrey Goldstone proved that where symmetry is broken, additional bosons, the Nambu–Goldstone bosons, will then be observed in the spectrum of possible states; one canonical example being the phonon in a crystal.
Ricciardi and Umezawa proposed in 1967 a general theory of quanta of long-range coherent waves within and between brain cells, and showed a possible mechanism of memory storage and retrieval in terms of Nambu–Goldstone bosons.[3] This was later fleshed out into a theory encompassing all biological cells and systems in the quantum biodynamics of Del Giudice and co-authors.[4][5] Mari Jibu and Kunio Yasue later popularized these results and discussed the implications towards consciousness.[6][7][8]
See also
- Electromagnetic theories of consciousness
- Neuroplasticity
- Quantum mind
- Shadows of the Mind, 1994 book by Roger Penrose
- Quantum Aspects of Life (book)
- Quantum mysticism
References
- ^ Atmanspacher, Harald (2 June 2015) [30 November 2004]. "Quantum Approaches to Consciousness". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Center for the Study of Language and Information (CSLI), Stanford University. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
- ^ Van den Noort M, Lim S, Bosch P (2016). "On the need to unify neuroscience and physics". Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation. 3: 271–273. doi:10.20517/2347-8659.2016.55.
- ^ Ricciardi LM, Umezawa H (1967). "Brain and physics of many-body problems". Kybernetik. 4: 44–48. doi:10.1007/bf00292170. PMID 5617419.
- ^ Del Giudice E, Doglia S, Milani M, Vitiello G (1986). "Electromagnetic field and spontaneous symmetry breaking in biological matter". Nucl. Phys. B. 275: 185–199. doi:10.1016/0550-3213(86)90595-x.
- ^ Del Giudice E, Preparata G, Vitiello G (1988). "Water as a free electric dipole laser". Physical Review Letters. 61: 1085–1088. doi:10.1103/physrevlett.61.1085.
- ^ Jibu M, Yasue K (1995). Quantum Brain Dynamics: An Introduction. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
- ^ Jibu M, Yasue K (1997). "What is mind? Quantum field theory of evanescent photons in brain as quantum theory of consciousness". Informatica. 21: 471–490.
- ^ Yasue, Kunio. "Quantum Monadology". Toward a Science of Consciousness. Archived from the original on June 25, 2014.