Could the brain be a quantum computer already?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of whether the brain could function as a quantum computer, particularly in relation to memory and time perception. Participants explore theories involving time travel, parallel universes, and the nature of memory, including phenomena like déjà vu.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes that the brain might send advance waves back in time to retrieve memories, suggesting this could explain the vividness of certain memories and phenomena like déjà vu.
  • Another participant suggests that memories may be linked to parallel universes, potentially supporting the many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics.
  • Some participants argue against the idea that memories are perfect, pointing out that memories can be distorted or incomplete, and questioning how one would measure temporal distances between memories.
  • A participant raises the concept of jamais vu, contrasting it with déjà vu, indicating the complexity of memory recognition.
  • One participant expresses skepticism about the overall speculation in the thread, suggesting it may not align with site guidelines.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views, with some supporting the idea of quantum processes in the brain and others challenging the validity of these claims. The discussion remains unresolved, with multiple competing perspectives on the nature of memory and its relation to time and quantum mechanics.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations in understanding memory, including the effects of memory distortion and loss, and the speculative nature of linking brain function to quantum mechanics and parallel universes.

KOLYA K
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
I have been thinking for the past week on how the mind works, and classical physics theory has plenty of holes in it.

The most convincing aspect of my new theory is with how the brain and memory work. When you wish to remember something, could the brain and its neurons be sending an advance wave back in time to the correct moment, then back in time the brain unconciously sends the information in a retarded wave back to you. It would explain why some memories can seem so real, like you are re-living the experience. It would also explain why generally the further back in time you wish to remember the longer it takes to remember the event in general due to the speed of light limit of the retarded wave, and why sometimes the memory 'pops' into your head after you have given up trying to remember, with C putting a lower limit on the time it takes to complete the collapse of the wave function. If you had recently remembered that thing, the advance wave may not have to go back in time as much.

The theory could explain classic experiences such as de-ja-vu, your mind receiving an advance wave from yourself in the future.
Could our brains already be real time machines?

I would appreciate some feedback on this as I am fairly new to the subject, with my background so far being in classical physics and mathematics.
All the best everyone.
Kolya Kamenev.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
i think there is no doubt that our brains are linked to the dimensions in time, in fact, we may not even be looking at our future selves, but 'parrallel universes' in which at the moment we had first seen the images, we were actually observing the event ourselves
 
KOLYA K said:
It would explain why some memories can seem so real, like you are re-living the experience.

it seems to me here that you are referring to the phenomenon of deja vu. researchers have discovered that deja vu is caused by an unconscious registering of information which, when you become consciously aware of, seems familiar since the brain has already registered it as a memory (i.e. you see someone in your peripheral vision without directly being aware of them and when you do see them, your brain has already registered them as a memory so it seems as if they/the situation is very familiar). either that, or the deja vu is triggered by a past memory that is similar to the situation that you have just seen.
 
noblesavage8 said:
it seems to me here that you are referring to the phenomenon of deja vu. researchers have discovered that deja vu is caused by an unconscious registering of information which, when you become consciously aware of, seems familiar since the brain has already registered it as a memory (i.e. you see someone in your peripheral vision without directly being aware of them and when you do see them, your brain has already registered them as a memory so it seems as if they/the situation is very familiar). either that, or the deja vu is triggered by a past memory that is similar to the situation that you have just seen.

i can't believe that, as some memories are quite definitely real, if you recognise somebody, you recognise sombody, you do not remember every event in an approx. 5 second period
 
hexhunter said:
in fact, we may not even be looking at our future selves, but 'parrallel universes'

If the brain has connectivity to parallel universes (and I think it might), then this may justify the many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics.

juju
 
well, wouldn't that mean that memories would be perfect? Which, in fact they are not. We often tend to replace objects with different objects and fill in missing information when we access our memories. Also, how would you measure the distance between the memory in the past and future? Also, how do you explain memory loss etc...
 
much like time, we know it's there, we have some control in what happens, but we can't see it all, its hiding behind the sofa of mystery
and of course, some people do have photographic memory
also, do not think that our bodies are on our side, their not keeping us alive for our own sake, much more likely for the sake of the bacterium we carry, we exist as giant vehicles for tiny beings, what we don't know, we probably don't have to know, as long as we do our job, what we forget is not important to the cause of our existence, if we remember a place but can't remember where it is or its name, then we won't be able to go back, wasting time for the bacterium that wishes to spread...

do i sound mad?
 
hexhunter said:
do i sound mad?

yes, I think you do
 
hexhunter said:
i can't believe that, as some memories are quite definitely real, if you recognise somebody, you recognise sombody, you do not remember every event in an approx. 5 second period

...actually. there's also jamais vu. which is when you DO recognize somebody but you refuse to believe that you've met. essentially the opposite of deja vu...
 
  • #10
This thread is the sort of overspeculation that is prohibited in our Site Guidelines. Please take note in the future.

Thank you,

Tom
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
4K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
7K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K