Coherent Energy Transfer and the Potential Implications for Consciousness
Open accessAbstract
The argument that biological systems are too “warm and wet” to support quantum effects is becoming increasingly antiquated as research in the field of quantum biology progresses. In fact, not only is it becoming apparent that quantum processes may regularly take place in biological systems, but these processes may underlie the mechanisms of consciousness and propel our models of conceptualizing the human brain into the next era of scientific understanding. The phenomena of consciousness have allured scientists and philosophers for thousands of years, while a precise technical understanding has remained elusive. If possible, developing this understanding will likely be one of humanity’s greatest achievements. Knowing the fundamental processes that create conscious experience has far-reaching implications, from the potential birth of true artificial intelligence to a better understanding of mental health disorder etiologies and treatments. One major challenge in the mental health professions, and, ultimately, in empathy of any kind, is being able to see from and appreciate another person’s unique, subjective experience. Discoveries in the field of consciousness could help bridge this gap.
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Certain chemicals that influence both consciousness and cognitive function, such as general anaesthetics and antidepressants, involve microtubules.
“This is supported by the fact that certain chemicals that influence both consciousness as well as cognitive function, such as general anaesthetics and antidepressants, involve microtubules 9,61,62 .”
From Quantum effects in the brain: A review (2020) · cites this paper as [61]
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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
- Authors
- Toole, J. T., Craddock, T. J. A., & Kurian, P.
- Venue
- Journal of Cognitive Science
- Publisher
- Institute for Cognitive Science
- Published
- 2018-06
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 115-124
- ISSN
- 1598-2327 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2892568053
- Cited by
- 14
- References
- 14
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2024: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 0.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nc
- Locations
- Journal of Cognitive Science (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- NSUWorks (Nova Southeastern University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Biofield Effects and Biophysics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Philosophy and Theoretical Science
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Studies
- Keywords
- coherent energy transfer, consciousness, quantum biology, artificial intelligence, mental illness, empathy, subjective experience
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