Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Possible Connection Between Self-Consciousness and Quantum

  • Published:
Axiomathes Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We study the possible connection between self-consciousness and quantum process. It is shown that the self-consciousness function can help to measure the collapse time of wave function under some condition, while the usual physical device without self-consciousness can't. Furthermore, we show that the observer with self-consciousness can distinguish the definite state and the superposition of definite states under some stronger condition. This provides a practical physical method to differentiate man and machine, and will also help to find the possible existence of self-consciousness in the animal kingdom. We finally give some further discussions about these new results.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Albert, D.: 1995, Quantum Mechanics and Experience, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell, J.S.: 1987, Speakable and Unspeakable In Quantum Mechanics, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brody, D. and L.P.Hughston: 2001, 'Experimental Tests for Stochastic Reduction Models', LANL e-print quant-ph/0104032.

  • Chalmers, D.: 1996, The Conscious Mind, Oxford University Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diosi, L.: 1989, 'Models for Universal Reduction of Macroscopic Quantum Fluctuations', Phys. Rev. A 40, 1165–1174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duane, D. and T. Behrendt: 1965, 'Extrasensory Electroencephalographic Induction Between Identical Twins', Science 150, 367.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fivel, D.I.: 1997, 'An Indication From the Magnitude of CP Violations that Gravitation is a Possible Cause of Wave-Function Collapse', LANL e-print quant-ph/9710042.

  • Ghirardi, G.C., A. Rimini, and T. Weber: 1986, 'Unified Dynamics for Microscopic and Macroscopic Systems' Phys. Rev. D 34, 470–491.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghirardi, G.C., A. Rimini, and T. Weber: 1990, 'A Continuous-Spontaneous-Reduction Model Involving Gravity', Phys. Rev. D 42, 1057–1064.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grinberg-Zylberbaum, J., D.Dalaflor, L.Attie, and A.Goswami: 1994, 'The Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Paradox in the Brain: The Transferred Potential', Physics Essays 7, 422.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagan, S., S.R. Hameroff, and J.A. Tuszynski: 2002, 'Quantum Computation in Brain Microtubules: Decoherence and Biological Feasibility', Phys. Rev. E 65, 061901.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hameroff, S.R. and R. Penrose: 1996, 'Conscious Events as Orchestrated Space-Time Selections', Journal of Consciousness Studies 3(1), 36–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hameroff, S.R.: 1998, 'Quantum Computation in Brain Microtubules? The Penrose-Hameroff “Orch OR” Model of Consciousness', Philosophical Transactions Royal Society London (A) 356, 1869–1896.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hecht, S., S. Shlaer, and M.H. Pirenne: 1941, 'Energy, Quanta and Vision', J. Gen. Physiology 25, 819.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hughston, L.P.: 1996, Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. A 452, 953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, W., C. Simon, R. Penrose, and D. Bouwmeester: 2002, 'Towards Quantum Superpositions of a Mirror', LANL e-print quant-ph/0210001.

  • McGinn, C.: 1999, The Mysterious Flame: Conscious Minds in a Material World, Basic Books, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearle, P.: 1989, 'Combining Stochastic Dynamical State-vector Reduction with Spontaneous Localization', Phys. Rev. A 39, 2277–2289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Penrose, R.: 1989, The Emperor's New Mind Oxford University Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Penrose, R.: 1996, 'On Gravity's Role in Quantum State Reduction', Gen. Rel. and Grav 28, 581–600.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Percival, I.C.: 1994, 'Quantum Space-Time Fluctuations and Primary State Diffusion', Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. A 447, 189–209.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pieke, F. and D.A.Baylor: 1998, 'Single Photon Detection by Rod Cells of the Retina', Rev. Mod Phys. 70, 1027.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shan, Gao: 1999a, 'The Collapse Problem can be Tackled in Terms of New Motion of Particle', LANL e-print physics/9907002.

  • Shan, Gao: 1999b, 'How to Realize Quantum Superluminal Communication?', LANL eprint quant-ph/9906116.

  • Shan, Gao: 2000a, Quantum Motion and Superluminal Communication, Chinese B&T Publishing House, Beijing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shan, Gao: 2000b, 'Revised Quantum Dynamics Permits Superluminal Communication', Quantum-Mind Digest #002628.

  • Shan, Gao: 2001a, 'From Quantum Motion to Classical Motion-seeking the Lost Reality', Physics Essays 14(1), 37–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shan, Gao: 2001b, 'Can Consciousness Conquer Quantum Randomness?', Quantum-Mind Digest #002836.

  • Shan, Gao: 2002, 'A Quantum Method to Test the Existence of Consciousness', The Noetic Journal 3(3), 233–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shan Gao: 2003, 'A Possible Quantum Basis of Panpsychism', NeuroQuantology 1(1), 4–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Squires, E.J.: 1992, 'Explicit Collapse and Superluminal Signaling', Phys. Lett. A 163, 356–358.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Standish, L.J., L.C. Johnson, T. Richards, and L. Kozak: 2003, EEGEvidence of Correlated Event Related Signals between Distant Human Brains, A Plenary Talk in Quantum Mind 2003 Conference, Tucson.

Download references

Authors
  1. Gao Shan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shan, G. A Possible Connection Between Self-Consciousness and Quantum. Axiomathes 14, 295–305 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:AXIO.0000024899.46539.83

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:AXIO.0000024899.46539.83

Search

Navigation