Are Quantum Processes Responsible for Brain Functions and Consciousness?

[.Scott]

From phys.org:

"For our experiments we used proton spins of 'brain water' as the known system. 'Brain water' builds up naturally as fluid in our brains and the proton spins can be measured using MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). Then, by using a specific MRI design to seek entangled spins, we found MRI signals that resemble heartbeat evoked potentials, a form of EEG signals.

Dr. Kerskens added, "If entanglement is the only possible explanation here then that would mean that brain processes must have interacted with the nuclear spins, mediating the entanglement between the nuclear spins. As a result, we can deduce that those brain functions must be quantum. "Because these brain functions were also correlated to short-term memory performance and conscious awareness, it is likely that those quantum processes are an important part of our cognitive and conscious brain functions.

 

[hutchphd]

Its alive, its alive, its alive...! This is worth a look if only to pick apart. Of course the kicker is from Dr. Kerskens "If entanglement is the only possible explanation..."
So they look at the spin spin decay (or linewidth) and try to correlate it to conscious processes. Perhaps they tortured the data into submission...I suspect not ... but they deserve applause for the attempt. Here is the actual paper:

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2399-6528/ac94be/pdf

 

[bob012345]

It seems to me the question should be is there or is there not measurable quantum processes in the brain. The authors might get the interpretation wrong and still be right on the larger point that the brain is non-classical. Penrose has been saying that for decades. Does this work confirm that point or are the authors measuring something entirely spurious?

 

[.Scott]

Penrose has been saying that for decades. Does this work confirm that point or are the authors measuring something entirely spurious?

Penrose picked microtubules and "Orch-OR". I am much more excited about this "brain water". I strikes me as a much more employable component. I also suspect that there are many independent "consciousness circuits" each one based on Grover's Algorithm.

 

[hutchphd]

It seems to me the question should be is there or is there not measurable quantum processes in the brain.

With respect; what in living heck does that mean?
Of course there are quantum processes in the brain. Every chemical reaction is a "quantum process". Perhaps you could be a bit more definite.

I never bet against Sir Roger . He has a spectacular intellect.

 

[.Scott]

With respect; what in living heck does that mean?
Of course there are quantum processes in the brain. Every chemical reaction is a "quantum process". Perhaps you could be a bit more definite.

I never bet against Sir Roger . He has a spectacular intellect.

I'm sure @bob012345 meant whether there are quantum processes that are directly used to process "thoughtful" information. So if you looked at a computer, you could quickly determine that there were metal components, some of which carried electric current. But determining if any of them carry information would require a more detailed check.

To extend the analogy, finding entangled proton spins in the brain would be like finding functional semiconductors in the computer. It still doesn't mean that those protons are used for directly processing our thoughts, but it indicates that potential QM thought processing mechanisms are available.

This is a big jump from opinions that have claimed that the brain was too wet and warm for useful entanglement. Especially being that the protons are in the wettest and warmest parts.

 

[bob012345]

With respect; what in living heck does that mean?
Of course there are quantum processes in the brain. Every chemical reaction is a "quantum process". Perhaps you could be a bit more definite.

I never bet against Sir Roger . He has a spectacular intellect.

Like @.Scott said, whether the process Penrose discusses in his books or something else, I meant if it can be identified that the brain is actually quantum computing with such a process vs. just detecting quantum processes in the fluids due to Chemistry.