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Cited by 31Biofield Effects and BiophysicsSpectroscopy and Quantum Chemical StudiesPhotochemistry and Electron Transfer Studies

On the possible quantum role of serotonin in consciousness

Tonello, Lucio, Cocchi, Massimo, Gabrielli, Fabio, Tuszynski, Jack A.·2015·Journal of Integrative Neuroscience
DOI 10.1142/s021963521550017x
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Abstract

Cell membrane's fatty acids (FAs) have been carefully investigated in neurons and platelets in order to study a possible connection to psychopathologies. An important link between the FA distribution and membrane dynamics appears to emerge with the cytoskeleton dynamics. Microtubules (MTs) in particular have been implicated in some recent quantum consciousness models and analyses. The recently proposed quantum model of Craddock et al. (2014) states that MTs possess structural and functional characteristics that are consistent with collective quantum coherent excitations in the aromatic groups of their tryptophan residues. These excitations are consistent with a clocking mechanism on a sub-nanosecond scale. This mechanism and analogous phenomena in light-harvesting complexes in plants and bacteria, are induced by photons and have been touted as evidence of quantum processes in biology. A possible source of intra-cellular photons could be membrane lipid peroxidation processes, so the FA profile could then be linked to the bio-photon emission. The model presented here suggests new ways to understand the role serotonin plays in relation to FAs. In plants, tryptophan conversion of light to exciton energy can participate in the directional orientation of leaves toward sunlight. Since serotonin is structurally similar to tryptophan, in the human brain, neurons could use tryptophan to capture photons and also use serotonin to initiate movement toward the source of light. Hence, we postulate two possible new roles for serotonin: (1) as an antioxidant, in order to counter-balance the oxidative effect of FAs, and (2) to participate in quantum interactions with MTs, in the same way as anesthetics and psychoactive compounds have been recently shown to act. In this latter case, the FA profile could provide an indirect measure of serotonin levels.

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  • There is some evidence that transcranial photobiomodulation is an effective treatment for various brain disorders.

    “There is some evidence that transcranial photobiomodulation, the application of red or near-infrared laser light to the cranial area, is an effective treatment for various brain disorders 152,153 .”

    From Quantum effects in the brain: A review (2020) · cites this paper as [152]

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Authors
Tonello, L., Cocchi, M., Gabrielli, F., & Tuszynski, J. A.
Affiliations
LUdeS University (CH)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Integrative Neuroscience
Publisher
World Scientific Pub Co Pte Ltd
Published
2015-09
Volume
14
Issue
03
Pages
295-308
ISSN
  • 0219-6352 (ISSN-L)
  • 1757-448X
DOI
10.1142/s021963521550017x
OpenAlex
W1803964003
Semantic Scholar
7b746f8ee57bcefa0b47e9fd598b1b71e7b40212
Cited by
31
References
62
Citations by year
2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 2
FWCI
3.93
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Integrative Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Biofield Effects and Biophysics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Physical and Theoretical Chemistry › Photochemistry and Electron Transfer Studies
Keywords
serotonin, consciousness, microtubules, quantum consciousness, tryptophan, membrane fatty acids, lipid peroxidation, cytoskeletal dynamics, light-harvesting complexes, psychopathology, neuronal membrane
MeSH terms
Animals, Cell Membrane, Cell Movement, Consciousness, Fatty Acids, Humans, Microtubules, Models, Neurological, Neurons, Quantum Theory, Serotonin, Tryptophan, Photons

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