Importance of quantum decoherence in brain processes
Open accessAbstract
Based on a calculation of neural decoherence rates, we argue that the degrees of freedom of the human brain that relate to cognitive processes should be thought of as a classical rather than quantum system, i.e., that there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the current classical approach to neural network simulations. We find that the decoherence time scales ( approximately 10(-13)-10(-20) s) are typically much shorter than the relevant dynamical time scales ( approximately 10(-3)-10(-1) s), both for regular neuron firing and for kinklike polarization excitations in microtubules. This conclusion disagrees with suggestions by Penrose and others that the brain acts as a quantum computer, and that quantum coherence is related to consciousness in a fundamental way.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The brain operates in a warm, decoherence-prone physiological environment.
“Although the brain operates in a warm, decoherence-prone physiological environment [10,11]”
From Quantum-Inspired and Non-Classical Approaches to Consciousness: Models, Evidence and Constraints (2026) · cites this paper as [10]
Tegmark's influential estimate concluded that MTs in a living brain could not support stable macroscopic quantum effects.
“The idea that MTs in a living brain could support stable macroscopic quantum effects has generally been considered extremely implausible since Tegmark’s influential estimate of decoherence times in the brain (Tegmark 2000).”
From A quantum microtubule substrate of consciousness is experimentally supported and solves the binding and epiphenomenalism problems (2025) · cites this paper as Tegmark 2000
Tegmark's critique assumed superpositions of solitons separated by 24 nanometers along the microtubule, but Orch OR superposition separation is at the Fermi length level of atomic nuclei, seven orders of magnitude smaller, so Tegmark underestimated decoherence time by seven orders of magnitude.
“He assumed superpositions of solitons separated from themselves by a distance of 24 nanometers along the length of the microtubule.As previously described, superposition separation in Orch OR is at the Fermi length level of atomic nuclei, i.e. 7 orders of magnitude smaller than Tegmark's separation value, thus underestimating decoherence time by 7 orders of magnitude, i.e. from 10 -13 s to”
From Consciousness in the universe (2014) · cites this paper as [161]
The Fisher-Escolà paradox was formally noted by Tegmark [65] and later discussed by other researchers [66].
“This paradox was formally noted by Tegmark [65] and later discussed by other researchers [66].”
From Mathematical proof of the Fisher-Escolà <i>Q</i> statistical distribution in quantum consciousness modeling (2025) · cites this paper as [65]
What we have demonstrated regarding the Q of Fisher-Escolà distribution does not resolve the decoherence problem described by Tegmark.
“What we have demonstrated regarding the Q of Fisher-Escolà distribution does not resolve the decoherence problem described by Tegmark [65].”
From Mathematical proof of the Fisher-Escolà <i>Q</i> statistical distribution in quantum consciousness modeling (2025) · cites this paper as [65]
Anaesthetics act in lipid-like hydrophobic regions in proteins.
“Further research suggests that anaesthetics act in lipid-like hydrophobic regions in proteins 64 .”
From Quantum effects in the brain: A review (2020) · cites this paper as [64]
The fact that cognition in simple single-celled organisms such as slime moulds is linked to cytoskeletal microtubules points to a possible site for the action of general anaesthetics.
“The fact that this cognition is linked to cytoskeletal microtubules points to a possible site for the action of general anaesthetics 64,75 .”
From Quantum effects in the brain: A review (2020) · cites this paper as [64]
Gene expression after exposure to anaesthetic compounds is concentrated on microtubule dependent functions.
“Craddock et al. propose that tubulin, the protein subunit of microtubules, seems the most likely due to the fact that gene expression after exposure to anaesthetic compounds is concentrated on microtubule dependent functions 64,79 .”
From Quantum effects in the brain: A review (2020) · cites this paper as [64]
Max Tegmark estimates decoherence time scales for ions involved in the propagation of action potentials to be 10 to 20 orders of magnitude smaller than relevant time scales of neural dynamics.
“However, a crucial point has been made by Max Tegmark [118] who estimates decoherence time scales for ions involved in the propagation of action potentials to be 10 to 20 orders of magnitude smaller than relevant time scales of neural dynamics.”
From The future of quantum biology (2018) · cites this paper as [118]
Cites
James, W. (1891) · Henry Holt and Company eBooks · doi:10.1037/11059-000 · Cited by 25,799 · see citing works
(2020) · Princeton University Press eBooks · doi:10.2307/j.ctv131bv37.5 · Cited by 22,595 · see citing works
On the Quantum Correction For Thermodynamic Equilibrium
Wigner, E. (1932) · Physical Review · doi:10.1103/physrev.40.749 · Cited by 9,283 · see citing works
Frieden, B. R. (1998) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511622670.006 · Cited by 4,057 · see citing works
Spin Glass Theory and Beyond: An Introduction to the Replica Method and Its Applications
Mezard, M., Parisi, G., & Virasoro, M. (1986) · World Scientific Lecture Notes in Physics · doi:10.1142/0271 · Cited by 3,653 · see citing works
"Relative State" Formulation of Quantum Mechanics
Everett, H. (1957) · Reviews of Modern Physics · doi:10.1103/revmodphys.29.454 · Cited by 3,379 · see citing works
Distribution functions in physics: Fundamentals
Hillery, M. S., O’Connell, R. F., Scully, M. O., & Wigner, E. P. (1984) · Physics Reports · doi:10.1016/0370-1573(84)90160-1 · Cited by 2,932 · see citing works
Unified dynamics for microscopic and macroscopic systems
Ghirardi, G. C., Rimini, A., & Weber, T. (1986) · Physical Review D · doi:10.1103/physrevd.34.470 · Cited by 2,798 · see citing works
Mézard, M., Giorgio Parisi, A., VIRASORO, M. A., & Thouless, D. J. (1988) · Physics Today · doi:10.1063/1.2811676 · Cited by 2,683 · see citing works
Decoherence and the Transition from Quantum to Classical
Zurek, W. H. (1991) · Physics Today · doi:10.1063/1.881293 · Cited by 2,634 · see citing works
Amit, D. J. (1989) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511623257 · Cited by 2,279 · see citing works
Decoherence and the Appearance of a Classical World in Quantum Theory
Joos, E., Zeh, H. D., Kiefer, C., Giulini, D., Kupsch, J., & Stamatescu, I.-O. (2003) · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-05328-7 · Cited by 2,121 · see citing works
The Emperor's New Mind: Concerning Computers, Minds, and The Laws of Physics
Penrose, R., & Gardner, M. (1989) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198519737.001.0001 · Cited by 2,007 · see citing works
Distribution Functions in Physics: Fundamentals
Hillery, M. S., O’Connell, R. F., Scully, M. O., & Wigner, E. P. (1997) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-59033-7_28 · Cited by 1,687 · see citing works
Pointer basis of quantum apparatus: Into what mixture does the wave packet collapse?
Zurek, W. H. (1981) · Physical review. D. Particles, fields, gravitation, and cosmology/Physical review. D. Particles and fields · doi:10.1103/physrevd.24.1516 · Cited by 1,651 · see citing works
The emergence of classical properties through interaction with the environment
Joos, E., & Zeh, H. D. (1985) · Zeitschrift für Physik B Condensed Matter · doi:10.1007/bf01725541 · Cited by 1,505 · see citing works
Katz, B. (1966) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 1,420 · see citing works
Environment-induced superselection rules
Zurek, W. H. (1982) · Physical Review D · doi:10.1103/physrevd.26.1862 · Cited by 1,415 · see citing works
Decoherence and the Appearance of a Classical World in Quantum Theory
Giulini, D., Joos, E., Kiefer, C., Kupsch, J., Stamatescu, I.-O., & Zeh, H. D. (1996) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-03263-3 · Cited by 1,106 · see citing works
The Many Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics
Lev Vaidman, A. (2015) · Princeton University Press eBooks · doi:10.1515/9781400868056 · Cited by 1,051 · see citing works
On the interpretation of measurement in quantum theory
Zeh, H. D. (1970) · Foundations of Physics · doi:10.1007/bf00708656 · Cited by 1,028 · see citing works
Combining stochastic dynamical state-vector reduction with spontaneous localization
Pearle, P. (1989) · Physical Review A · doi:10.1103/physreva.39.2277 · Cited by 942 · see citing works
Coherent states via decoherence.
Zurek, W. H., Habib, S., & Paz, J. P. (1993) · Physical Review Letters · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.70.1187 · Cited by 679 · see citing works
DeWitt, B. S. (1970) · Physics Today · doi:10.1063/1.3022331 · Cited by 678 · see citing works
Reduction of a wave packet in quantum Brownian motion
Unruh, W. G., & Zurek, W. H. (1989) · Physical Review D · doi:10.1103/physrevd.40.1071 · Cited by 599 · see citing works
(2020) · Bloomsbury Academic eBooks · doi:10.5040/9781350107427.0018 · Cited by 541 · see citing works
Reduction of the state vector by a nonlinear Schrödinger equation
Pearle, P. (1976) · Physical review. D. Particles, fields, gravitation, and cosmology/Physical review. D. Particles and fields · doi:10.1103/physrevd.13.857 · Cited by 435 · see citing works
Mind, Matter, and Quantum Mechanics
Stapp, H. P., & Greenberger, D. M. (1994) · Physics Today · doi:10.1063/1.2808702 · Cited by 396 · see citing works
Quantum computation in brain microtubules? The Penrose–Hameroff ‘Orch OR‘ model of consciousness
Hameroff, S. R. (1998) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences · doi:10.1098/rsta.1998.0254 · Cited by 368 · see citing works
Padmanabhan, Τ. (2000) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9781139171083.006 · Cited by 357 · see citing works
Mind, Matter, and Quantum Mechanics
Stapp, H. P. (1993) · The frontiers collection · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-08765-7 · Cited by 326 · see citing works
Phase Space Picture of Quantum Mechanics - Group Theoretical Approach
Kim, Y. S., & Noz, M. E. (1991) · World Scientific lecture notes in physics · doi:10.1142/9789812797278 · Cited by 281 · see citing works
Assessment of Everett's "Relative State" Formulation of Quantum Theory
Wheeler, J. A. (1957) · Reviews of Modern Physics · doi:10.1103/revmodphys.29.463 · Cited by 254 · see citing works
Is “the Theory of Everything” Merely the Ultimate Ensemble Theory?
Tegmark, M. (1998) · Annals of Physics · doi:10.1006/aphy.1998.5855 · Cited by 250 · see citing works
Self-citationIs "the theory of everything" merely the ultimate ensemble theory?
Tegmark, M. (1998) · CERN Document Server (European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Cited by 222 · see citing works
Self-citationInformation processing in microtubules
Hameroff, S. R., & Watt, R. C. (1982) · Journal of Theoretical Biology · doi:10.1016/0022-5193(82)90137-0 · Cited by 217 · see citing works
Lockwood, M. (1989) · Cited by 213 · see citing works
Phase Space Picture of Quantum Mechanics
Kim, Y. S., & Noz, M. E. (1991) · World Scientific lecture notes in physics · doi:10.1142/1197 · Cited by 197 · see citing works
Kinklike excitations as an energy-transfer mechanism in microtubules
Satarić, M. V., Tuszyński, J. A., & Žakula, R. B. (1993) · Physical review. E, Statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics · doi:10.1103/physreve.48.589 · Cited by 195 · see citing works
Brain and physics of many-body problems
Ricciardi, L. M., & Umezawa, H. (1967) · Kybernetik · doi:10.1007/bf00292170 · Cited by 189 · see citing works
Environmental and spontaneous localization
Gallis, M. R., & Fleming, G. N. (1990) · Physical Review A · doi:10.1103/physreva.42.38 · Cited by 188 · see citing works
Dissipation and memory capacity in the quantum brain model
Vitiello, G. (1995) · CERN Document Server (European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Cited by 171 · see citing works
DISSIPATION AND MEMORY CAPACITY IN THE QUANTUM BRAIN MODEL
Vitiello, G. (1995) · International Journal of Modern Physics B · doi:10.1142/s0217979295000380 · Cited by 167 · see citing works
Computation and Neural Systems
Eeckman, F. H., & Bower, J. M. (1993) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-3254-5 · Cited by 162 · see citing works
The Large, the Small and the Human Mind
Eastman, T. E. (1998) · Process Studies · doi:10.5840/process1998273/440 · Cited by 159 · see citing works
The Scientist Speculates: An Anthology of Partly-baked Ideas
Page, T. (1964) · American Journal of Physics · doi:10.1119/1.1970298 · Cited by 148 · see citing works
(1990) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.27-5745 · Cited by 145 · see citing works
Consciousness and Bose-Einstein condensates
Marshall, I. N. (1989) · New Ideas in Psychology · doi:10.1016/0732-118x(89)90038-x · Cited by 139 · see citing works
Ultimate Computing: Biomolecular Consciousness and NanoTechnology
Hameroff, S. R. (1987) · CERN Document Server (European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Cited by 128 · see citing works
Quantum gravity and the collapse of the wavefunction
Ellis, J. R., Mohanty, S., & Nanopoulos, D. V. (1989) · Physics Letters B · doi:10.1016/0370-2693(89)91482-2 · Cited by 128 · see citing works
(1995) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.32-3349 · Cited by 123 · see citing works
Ultimate computing: Biomolecular consciousness and nanotechnology
Koruga, D. L. (1988) · Biosystems · doi:10.1016/0303-2647(88)90052-4 · Cited by 122 · see citing works
Nonequilibrium Statistical Physics
Livi, R., & Politi, P. (2017) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781107278974 · Cited by 102 · see citing works
Apparent Wave Function Collapse Caused By Scattering
Tegmark, M. (1993) · Cited by 100 · see citing works
Self-citationApparent wave function collapse caused by scattering
Tegmark, M. (1993) · Foundations of Physics Letters · doi:10.1007/bf00662807 · Cited by 87 · see citing works
Self-citationMorell, P., & Norton, W. T. (1980) · Scientific American · doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0580-88 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
Vladimirov, I. S., Mit︠s︡kevich, N. V., Horský, J., et al. (1987) · Mir Publishers eBooks · Cited by 61 · see citing works
General theory of the decoherence effect in quantum mechanics
Omnes, R. L. (1997) · Physical Review A · doi:10.1103/physreva.56.3383 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Useful Proteins from Recombinant Bacteria
Gilbert, W., & Villa‐Komaroff, L. (1980) · Scientific American · doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0480-74 · Cited by 56 · see citing works
Walker, E. H. (1970) · Mathematical Biosciences · doi:10.1016/0025-5564(70)90046-5 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Decoherence produces coherent states: An explicit proof for harmonic chains
Tegmark, M., & Shapiro, H. S. (1994) · Physical review. E, Statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics · doi:10.1103/physreve.50.2538 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Self-citationOn Quantum Mechanical Aspects of Microtubules
Mavromatos, N. E., & Nanopoulos, D. V. (1998) · International Journal of Modern Physics B · doi:10.1142/s0217979298000326 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
When is a quantum measurement?
Peres, A. (1986) · American Journal of Physics · doi:10.1119/1.14505 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
On the Interpretation of Measurement within the Quantum Theory
Cooper, L. N., & van Vechten, D. (1969) · American Journal of Physics · doi:10.1119/1.1975279 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Quantum propensities and the brain-mind connection
Stapp, H. P. (1991) · Foundations of Physics · doi:10.1007/bf01889652 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Quantum-mechanical coherence in cell microtubules: a realistic possibility?
Mavromatos, N. E. (1999) · Bioelectrochemistry and Bioenergetics · doi:10.1016/s0302-4598(99)00015-x · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Exact solution of the infrared problem
Stapp, H. P. (1983) · Physical review. D. Particles, fields, gravitation, and cosmology/Physical review. D. Particles and fields · doi:10.1103/physrevd.28.1386 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Simple central pattern generator model using phasic analog neurons
McMillen, D. R., D’Eleuterio, G. M. T., & Halperin, J. R. P. (1999) · Physical review. E, Statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics · doi:10.1103/physreve.59.6994 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Microtubules: Montroll's kink and Morse vibrations
Rosu, H. C. (1997) · Physical review. E, Statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics · doi:10.1103/physreve.55.2038 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
The Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics: Many Worlds or Many Words?
Tegmark, M. (1998) · Fortschritte der Physik · doi:10.1002/(sici)1521-3978(199811)46:6/8
Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Decoherence, the measurement problem, and interpretations of quantum mechanics
Schlosshauer, M. (2005) · Reviews of Modern Physics · doi:10.1103/revmodphys.76.1267 · Cited by 1,443 · see citing works
Hameroff, S., & Penrose, R. (2014) · Physics of Life Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.plrev.2013.08.002 · Cited by 983 · see citing works
“Their far slower beat frequencies might then constitute conscious moments.”
Lambert, N., Chen, Y.-N., Cheng, Y.-C., Li, C.-M., Chen, G.-Y., & Nori, F. (2013) · Nature Physics · doi:10.1038/nphys2474 · Cited by 948 · see citing works
The quest for a Quantum Neural Network
Schuld, M., Sinayskiy, I., & Petruccione, F. (2014) · Quantum Information Processing · doi:10.1007/s11128-014-0809-8 · Cited by 671 · see citing works
Quantum computation in brain microtubules: decoherence and biological feasibility
Hagan, S., Hameroff, S. R., & Tuszyński, J. A. (2002) · Physical Review E · doi:10.1103/physreve.65.061901 · Cited by 389 · see citing works
Context effects produced by question orders reveal quantum nature of human judgments
Wang, Z., Solloway, T., Shiffrin, R. M., & Busemeyer, J. R. (2014) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1407756111 · Cited by 289 · see citing works
Marais, A., Adams, B., Ringsmuth, A. K., Ferretti, M., Gruber, J. M., Hendrikx, R., Schuld, M., Smith, S. L., Sinayskiy, I., Krüger, T. P. J., et al. (2018) · Journal of The Royal Society Interface · doi:10.1098/rsif.2018.0640 · Cited by 274 · see citing works
Quantum cognition: The possibility of processing with nuclear spins in the brain
Fisher, M. P. A. (2015) · Annals of Physics · doi:10.1016/j.aop.2015.08.020 · Cited by 259 · see citing works
Does quantum mechanics play a non-trivial role in life?
Davies, P. C. W. (2004) · Biosystems · doi:10.1016/j.biosystems.2004.07.001 · Cited by 187 · see citing works
Consciousness as a state of matter
Tegmark, M. (2015) · Chaos, Solitons & Fractals · doi:10.1016/j.chaos.2015.03.014 · Cited by 183 · see citing works
Self-citationQuantum computing at the frontiers of biological sciences
Emani, P. S., Warrell, J., Anticevic, A., Bekiranov, S., Gandal, M., McConnell, M. J., Sapiro, G., Aspuru-Guzik, A., Baker, J. T., Bastiani, M., et al. (2021) · Nature Methods · doi:10.1038/s41592-020-01004-3 · Cited by 163 · see citing works
The Easy Part of the Hard Problem: A Resonance Theory of Consciousness
Hunt, T., & Schooler, J. W. (2019) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2019.00378 · Cited by 134 · see citing works
The Entwined Mysteries of Anesthesia and Consciousness: Is There a Common Underlying Mechanism?
Hameroff, S. R. (2006) · Anesthesiology · doi:10.1097/00000542-200608000-00024 · Cited by 129 · see citing works
Quantum mechanics, interference, and the brain
Acacio de Barros, J., & Suppes, P. (2009) · Journal of Mathematical Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jmp.2009.03.005 · Cited by 119 · see citing works
Reimers, J. R., McKemmish, L. K., McKenzie, R. H., Mark, A. E., & Hush, N. S. (2009) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.0806273106 · Cited by 116 · see citing works
A quantum approach to visual consciousness
Woolf, N. J., & Hameroff, S. R. (2001) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/s1364-6613(00)01774-5 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
The brain is both neurocomputer and quantum computer
Hameroff, S. R. (2007) · Cognitive Science · doi:10.1080/03640210701704004 · Cited by 103 · see citing works
Revisiting the Quantum Brain Hypothesis: Toward Quantum (Neuro)biology?
Jedlicka, P. (2017) · Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnmol.2017.00366 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
A survey of quantum-like approaches to decision making and cognition
Ashtiani, M., & Azgomi, M. A. (2015) · Mathematical Social Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.mathsocsci.2015.02.004 · Cited by 96 · see citing works
How quantum brain biology can rescue conscious free will
Hameroff, S. (2012) · Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnint.2012.00093 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Experimental indications of non-classical brain functions
Kerskens, C. M., & López Pérez, D. (2022) · Journal of Physics Communications · doi:10.1088/2399-6528/ac94be · Cited by 88 · see citing works
Quantum coherence in ion channels: resonances, transport and verification
Vaziri, A., & Plenio, M. B. (2010) · New Journal of Physics · doi:10.1088/1367-2630/12/8/085001 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
McKemmish, L. K., Reimers, J. R., McKenzie, R. H., Mark, A. E., & Hush, N. S. (2009) · Physical Review E · doi:10.1103/physreve.80.021912 · Cited by 87 · see citing works
Quantum effects in the brain: A review
Adams, B., & Petruccione, F. (2020) · AVS Quantum Science · doi:10.1116/1.5135170 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
The First Minds: Caterpillars, Karyotes, and Consciousness
Reber, A. S. (2018) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190854157.001.0001 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
A new spin on neural processing: quantum cognition.
Weingarten, C. P., Doraiswamy, P. M., & Fisher, M. P. A. (2016) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2016.00541 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Quantum models of the mind: Are they compatible with environment decoherence?
Rosa, L. P., & Faber, J. (2004) · Physical Review E · doi:10.1103/physreve.70.031902 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
A new perspective on the functioning of the brain and the mechanisms behind conscious processes.
Keppler, J. (2013) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00242 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Wiest, M. C. (2025) · Neuroscience of Consciousness · doi:10.1093/nc/niaf011 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
“The idea that MTs in a living brain could support stable macroscopic quantum effects has generally been considered extremely implausible since Tegmark’s influential estimate of decoherence times in the brain (Tegmark 2000).”
Microtubule-stabilizer epothilone B delays anesthetic-induced unconsciousness in rats
Khan, S., Huang, Y., Timuçin, D., Bailey, S., Lee, S., Lopes, J., Gaunce, E., Mosberger, J., Zhan, M., Abdelrahman, B., et al. (2024) · eneuro · doi:10.1523/eneuro.0291-24.2024 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Coupling quantum-like cognition with the neuronal networks within generalized probability theory
Khrennikov, A., Ozawa, M., Benninger, F., & Shor, O. (2025) · Journal of Mathematical Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jmp.2025.102923 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Georgiev, D. (2007) · NeuroQuantology · doi:10.14704/nq.2007.5.1.121 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Swan, M., dos Santos, R. P., & Witte, F. (2022) · Quantum Reports · doi:10.3390/quantum4010008 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Basis for a neuronal version of Grover's quantum algorithm
Clark, K. B. (2014) · Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnmol.2014.00029 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
A quantum–classical model of brain dynamics
Sergi, A., Messina, A., Vicario, C. M., & Martino, G. (2023) · Entropy · doi:10.3390/e25040592 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Quantum formalism for the dynamics of cognitive psychology
Brody, D. C. (2023) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-023-43403-4 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Quantum Models of Consciousness from a Quantum Information Science Perspective
Gassab, L., Pusuluk, O., Cattaneo, M., & Müstecaplıoğlu, Ö. E. (2025) · Entropy · doi:10.3390/e27030243 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Evidence of quantum-entangled higher states of consciousness
Escolà-Gascón, Á. (2025) · Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal · doi:10.1016/j.csbj.2025.03.001 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Escolà-Gascón, Á., & Benito-León, J. (2025) · Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal · doi:10.1016/j.csbj.2025.04.025 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Our brains sense the future through a new quantum-like implicit learning mechanism
Escolà-Gascón, Á. (2024) · Brain Research Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2024.111048 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Quantum-Inspired and Non-Classical Approaches to Consciousness: Models, Evidence and Constraints
Arias-Carrión, O., Ortega-Robles, E., & Manjarrez, E. (2026) · Brain Sciences · doi:10.3390/brainsci16040386 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“Although the brain operates in a warm, decoherence-prone physiological environment [10,11], research in quantum biology demonstrates that certain quantum effects (for example, coherence or spin-dependent reaction dynamics) can persist under conditions once deemed prohibitive, as in photosynthetic…”
The collapse of the wave function as the mediator of free will in prime neurons
Loboguerrero, D. A. (2025) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2025.1637217
- Authors
- Tegmark, M.
- Affiliations
- Institute for Advanced Study (US)
- Corresponding author
- Tegmark, Max
- ORCID
- Tegmark, Max
- Venue
- Physical Review E
- Publisher
- American Physical Society (APS)
- Published
- 2000-04-01
- Volume
- 61
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 4194-4206
- ISSN
- 1063-651X (ISSN-L)
- 1095-3787
- OpenAlex
- W1520965145
- Cited by
- 776
- References
- 70
- Citations by year
- 2026: 74 · 2025: 54 · 2024: 42 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 39 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 33 · 2018: 34 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 35 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 32
- FWCI
- 8.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- arxiv.org
- Locations
- Physical review. E, Statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
- arXiv (Cornell University)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Quantum Mechanics and Applications
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Philosophy and Theoretical Science
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Biofield Effects and Biophysics
- Keywords
- decoherence, brain, microtubules, kink excitations, neuronal firing, quantum consciousness, Penrose, quantum brain, quantum computing
- MeSH terms
- Biometry, Biophysics, Brain, Cognition, Humans, Microtubules, Models, Neurological, Neurons, Quantum Theory, Neural Networks, Computer, Entropy, Biophysical Phenomena
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
