Abstract
The reduction of a quantum mechanical wave function by the entry of a datum into the consciousness of an observer is used, in a semirealistic neurochemical model, to bring about excitation of a nerve cell in that observer's central nervous system. It is suggested that mind can induce muscular movements by choosing to note data originating from specialized elements of the nervous system. Only the freedom to note or not to note a relevant datum is postulated for the observer's mind; the consequences of either choice are deterministic on the neural scale of events, so that quantum indeterminacy is consistent with physiological determinacy. The proposed mind-body coupling depends on the possibility of the biological evolution of a macroscopic device which has strikingly different neural correlates of its pure and mixed quantum states, respectively. An example of such a device is outlined in terms of components which are familiar from existing nervous systems.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
C. S. Sherrington,Man on His Nature (Cambridge Univ. Press, London, 1940).
J. v. Neumann,Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics (Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, New Jersey, 1955).
E. P. Wigner, inThe Scientist Speculates, I. J. Good, ed. (W. Heinemann, London, 1961).
G. Ludwig, inHeisenberg und die Physik unserer Zeit (Vieweg, Braunschweig, 1961).
J. M. Jauch,Foundations of Quantum Mechanics (Addison-Wesley, Reading, Massachusetts, 1968).
L. Bass,Hermathena 112, 52 (1971).
A. S. Eddington,The Philosophy of Physical Science (Cambridge Univ. Press, London, 1939).
D. Bohm,Quantum Theory (Prentice Hall, New York, 1951).
J. S. Griffith,Mathematical Neurobiology (Academic Press, New York, 1971).
E. Schrödinger,Naturwissenschaften 23, 807 (1935).
E. P. Wigner,Am. J. Phys. 31, 6 (1963).
J. M. Jauch, E. P. Wigner, and M. M. Yanase,Nuovo Cimento 48, 144 (1967).
A. L. Hodgkin,The Conduction of the Nervous Impulse (Liverpool Univ. Press, 1964).
T. Takenaka and S. Yamagishi,J. Gen. Physiol. 53, 81 (1969).
L. Bass and W. J. Moore,Brain Research 33, 451 (1971).
H. P. Meloche and J. P. Glusker,Science (U.S.)181, 350 (1973).
D. R. Lide,J. Chem. Phys. 27, 343 (1957).
E. Merzbacher,Quantum Mechanics (Wiley, New York, 1961).
M. L. Wohlbarsht and S. Yeandle,Ann. Rev. Physiol. 29, 513 (1967).
L. Bass and W. J. Moore,Biophys. J. 10, 1 (1970).
B. Hille,Progr. Biophys. Mol. Biol. 21, 1 (1970).
J. C. Eccles,Facing Reality (Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1970).
A. Einstein, B. Podolsky, and N. Rosen,Phys. Rev. 47, 777 (1935).
E. Schrödinger,Mind and Matter (Cambridge Univ. Press, London, 1959).
M. Poberai, G. Savay, and B. Csillik,Neurobiology (Copenhagen)2, 1 (1972).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bass, L. A quantum mechanical mind-body interaction. Found Phys 5, 159–172 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01100324
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01100324