Tuszynski The Emerging Physics of Consciousness

1. Auflage 2006
ISBN: 978-3-540-36723-9
Verlag: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: 1 - PDF Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 487 Seiten

Reihe: The Frontiers Collection

Seeks answers to these questions using the underlying assumption that consciousness can be understood using the intellectual potential of modern physics and other sciences. There are a number of theories of consciousness, some based on classical physics while others require the use of quantum concepts. The latter ones have drawn criticism from the parts of the scientific establishment while simultaneously claiming that classical approaches are doomed to failure. The contributing authors presents a spectrum of opinions from both sides of this on-going scientific debate, allowing readers to decide for themselves which of the approaches are most likely to succeed.

Professor Jack Tuszynski received his M.Sc. with distinction in Physics from the University of Poznan (Poland) in 1980. He received his Ph.D. in Condensed Matter Physics from the University of Calgary in 1983. He held a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the University of Calgary Chemistry Department in 1983. He was an Assistant Professor at the Department of Physics of the Memorial University of Newfoundland from 1983 to 1988, and at the University of Alberta Physics Department from 1988 to 1990. He joined the University of Alberta Physics Department in 1993. He is on the editorial board of the Journal of Biological Physics.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Tuszynski, Jack A.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Contents;6
2;List of Contributors;14
3;1 The Path Ahead;17
3.1;1.1 Definition and Fundamentals;17
3.2;1.2 Overview of the Contributions;27
3.3;1.3 New and Notable Developments;33
3.4;1.4 Conclusions;39
3.5;References;40
4;2 Consciousness and Quantum Physics: Empirical Research on the Subjective Reduction of the Statevector;43
4.1;2.1 Introduction;43
4.2;2.2 Experimental Design;49
4.3;2.3 Experimental Procedure;52
4.4;2.4 Data Analysis;53
4.5;2.5 Results;54
4.6;2.6 Conclusions;56
4.7;2.7 Further Research;61
4.8;Appendix;63
4.9;References;63
5;3 Microtubules in the Cerebral Cortex: Role in Memory and Consciousness;65
5.1;3.1 Introduction;65
5.2;3.2 Functions of Microtubules and MAPs;72
5.3;3.3 Learning and Memory: Neuroplasticity vs. Stability;81
5.4;3.4 Consciousness;93
5.5;3.5 Microtubules and Quantum Entanglement: A Possible Basis for Memory and Consciousness;101
5.6;3.6 Conclusion;105
5.7;References;106
6;4 Towards Experimental Tests of Quantum Effects in Cytoskeletal Proteins;111
6.1;4.1 Introduction;112
6.2;4.2 QED Model of Tubulin and its Implications;118
6.3;4.3 Tau Accumulation in Drosophila Mushroom Body Neurons Results in Memory Impairment;136
6.4;4.4 Refractometry, Surface Plasmon Resonance and Dielectric Spectroscopy of Tubulin and Microtubules;152
6.5;4.5 Emerging Directions of Experimental Tests of the Quantum Consciousness Idea;175
6.6;4.6 Unification of Concepts and Conclusions;179
6.7;References;181
7;5 Physicalism, Chaos and Reductionism;187
7.1;5.1 Introduction;187
7.2;5.2 Quantum and Classical Dynamics;188
7.3;5.3 What Are Classical Nonlinear Phenomena?;189
7.4;5.4 The Biological and Cognitive Hierarchies;190
7.5;5.5 Reductionism;193
7.6;5.6 Objections to Reductionism;195
7.7;5.7 Concluding Comments;204
7.8;References;206
8;6 Consciousness, Neurobiology and Quantum Mechanics: The Case for a Connection;209
8.1;6.1 Introduction: The Problems of Consciousness;209
8.2;6.2 Time and Consciousness;213
8.3;6.3 The Neural Correlate of Consciousness;222
8.4;6.4 The Neuronal Cytoskeleton;233
8.5;6.5 Quantum Information Processing;242
8.6;6.6 The Quantum Unconscious;246
8.7;6.7 Quantum Computation in Microtubules – The Orch OR Model;248
8.8;6.8 Applications of Orch OR to Consciousness and Cognition;252
8.9;6.9 Conclusion;258
8.10;Appendix;258
8.11;References;260
9;7 Life, Catalysis and Excitable Media: A Dynamic Systems Approach to Metabolism and Cognition;271
9.1;7.1 Life and Robustness;271
9.2;7.2 Life and Catalysis;276
9.3;7.3 Catalysis, Traveling Waves and Excitable Media;287
9.4;7.4 The Brain as an Excitable Medium;290
9.5;7.5 Conclusion;304
9.6;References;305
10;8 The Dendritic Cytoskeleton as a Computational Device: An Hypothesis;309
10.1;8.1 Introduction;309
10.2;8.2 Collective Modes of Behavior of C- Termini in Microtubules;317
10.3;8.3 Ion Waves along Actin Filaments;324
10.4;8.4 Dendritic Cytoskeleton Computation – Vision of Integration;329
10.5;8.5 Final Statement;336
10.6;References;336
11;9 Recurrent Quantum Neural Network and its Applications;343
11.1;9.1 Intelligence – Still Ill-Understood;343
11.2;9.2 Intelligent Filtering – Denoising of Complex Signals;344
11.3;9.3 A Comprehensive Quantum Model of Intelligent Behavior;353
11.4;9.4 RQNN-based Eye-Tracking Model;354
11.5;9.5 Concluding Remarks;363
11.6;References;364
12;10 Microtubules as a Quantum Hopfield Network;367
12.1;10.1 Introduction;367
12.2;10.2 Microtubulin Model;368
12.3;10.3 Hopfield Model;370
12.4;10.4 Quantum Model;371
12.5;10.5 Quantum Hopfield Network;374
12.6;10.6 QHN as an Information Propagator for a Microtubules Architecture;376
12.7;10.7 Conclusions and Future Work;383
12.8;References;385
13;11 Consciousness and Quantum Brain Dynamics;387
13.1;11.1 Deconstruction;387
13.2;11.2 Quantum Brain Dynamics;389
13.3;11.3 Hermitean Dual-Mode Quantum Brain Dynamics;391
13.4;11.4 Non-Hermitean Dual-Mode Quantum Brain Dynamics;392
13.5;11.5 Application to Mathematics: The Riemann Hypothesis;393
13.6;11.6 Monadological Implications of Non- Hermitean Dual- Mode QBD;397
13.7;11.7 Comment;399
13.8;References;400
14;12 The CEMI Field Theory: Seven Clues to the Nature of Consciousness;403
14.1;12.1 Why Do we Need a Theory of Consciousness?;403
14.2;12.2 Field Theories of Consciousness;409
14.3;12.3 The Brain’s Electromagnetic Field;410
14.4;12.4 The Influence of the Brain’s Electromagnetic Field on Neural Firing;411
14.5;12.5 The CEMI Field Theory;412
14.6;12.6 Why don’t External Fields Influence our Minds?;413
14.7;12.7 Does the CEMI Field Theory Account for the Seven Clues to the Nature of Consciousness?;414
14.8;12.8 A Last Word, Concerning Quantum Theories of Consciousness;417
14.9;12.9 Conclusions and the Way Forward;420
14.10;References;420
15;13 Quantum Cosmology and the Hard Problem of the Conscious Brain;423
15.1;13.1 Subject–Object Complementarity and the Hard Problem;423
15.2;13.2 Wave–Particle Complementarity, Uncertainty and Quantum Prediction;426
15.3;13.3 The Two-Timing Nature of Special Relativity;431
15.4;13.4 Reality and Virtuality: Quantum Fields and Seething Uncertainty;432
15.5;13.5 The Spooky Nature of Quantum Entanglement;433
15.6;13.6 Quantum Match-Making: Transactional Supercausality and Reality;436
15.7;13.7 Exploring the Three Pound Universe ;439
15.8;13.8 Chaos and Fractal Dynamics as a Source of Sensitivity, Unpredictability and Uncertainty;444
15.9;13.9 Classical and Quantum Computation, Anticipation and Survival;446
15.10;13.10 The Cosmic Primality of Membrane Excitation;449
15.11;13.11 Chaotic Excitability and Quantum Sensitivity as a Founding Eucaryote Characteristic;453
15.12;13.12 Models of the Global-Molecular-Quantum Interface;456
15.13;13.13 Quantum Mind and Transactional Supercausality;458
15.14;13.14 Complementarity and the Sexuality of Quantum Entanglement;464
15.15;13.15 The Hard Problem: Subjective Experience, Intentional Will and Quantum Mind Theories;465
15.16;13.16 Consciousness and Neurocosmology;467
15.17;References;470
16;14 Consciousness and Logic in a Quantum- Computing Universe;473
16.1;14.1 Introduction;474
16.2;14.2 The Big Wow ;475
16.3;14.3 How the Big Wow Drove Human Minds;477
16.4;14.4 Consciousness and Tubulins/Qubits;480
16.5;14.5 Consciousness Arises in the Bits Era ;481
16.6;14.6 The Double Logic of the Observer Inside a Quantum Universe;483
16.7;14.7 IT from Qubit: The Whole Universe as a Quantum Computer;484
16.8;14.8 Quantum Minds and Black – Hole Quantum Computers in a Quantum Game;485
16.9;14.9 Qualia and Quantum Space-Time;486
16.10;14.10 Mathematical Intuition and the Logic of the Internal Observer;489
16.11;14.11 The Self;491
16.12;14.12 Conclusion;493
16.13;References;495
17;Index;499