Quantum Mechanics & the Brain, and some of its Consequences

Cosmos and History 11 (2):146-153 (2015)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE In this paper we examine the consequences of von Neumann's interpretation of quantum mechanics in the context of an insect conditioning experiment. We argue that either the insect has a mind, therefore collapsing the wave function, or it does not, therefore reacting to superpositions in a different way. Thus, a device to condition insects could be used to test von Neumann's interpretation, if insects are not conscious. If, on the other hand, insects possess a mind, such experiment would open up the possibility of using insect experiments to test Stapp's theory of mind-matter interaction

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 91,349

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Quantum mechanics and consciousness.Friedrich Beck - 1994 - Journal of Consciousness Studies 1 (2):253-255.
Quantum propensities and the brain-mind connection.Henry P. Stapp - 1991 - Foundations of Physics 21 (12):1451-77.
On the logical origins of quantum mechanics demonstrated by using Clifford algebra.Elio Conte - 2011 - Electronic Journal of Theoretical Physics 8 (25):109-126.
Consciousness in quantum physics and the mind-body problem.Amit Goswami - 1990 - Journal of Mind and Behavior 11 (1):75-96.
Quantum Mechanics Without Probabilities.Peter Mittelstaedt - 2001 - Vienna Circle Institute Yearbook 8:189-200.
Quantum Mechanics and the Nature of Reality.Thomas Greenlee - 2010 - In Melville Y. Stewart (ed.), Science and Religion in Dialogue. Oxford, UK: Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 97--104.
Why the difference between quantum and classical mechanics is irrelevant to the mind-body problem.Kirk A. Ludwig - 1995 - PSYCHE: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Research On Consciousness 2.

Analytics

Added to PP
2015-12-01

Downloads
38 (#409,607)

6 months
11 (#222,787)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

J. Acacio de Barros
San Francisco State University

Citations of this work

No citations found.

Add more citations

References found in this work

Mind, matter and quantum mechanics.Henry P. Stapp - 1982 - Foundations of Physics 12 (4):363-399.
A Snapshot Of Foundational Attitudes Toward Quantum Mechanics.Maximilian Schlosshauer, Johannes Kofler & Anton Zeilinger - 2013 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 44 (3):222-230.
Mind, Brain, and Neuroscience.Henry P. Stapp - 2014 - Cosmos and History 10 (1):227-231.

Add more references