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The Emerging Physics of Consciousness pp 1–26Cite as

The Path Ahead

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Part of the book series: The Frontiers Collection ((FRONTCOLL))

Summary

This chapter provides an introduction to the rest of the book, which has a multidisciplinary approach to the physics of consciousness. We summarize the various contributions and present our own point of view, which is that there are some deficiencies in defining higher-order consciousness in strict terms of classic physics. We favor a proposal that considers some aspects of quantum-mechanical operations among molecules involved with neurotransmission and mechanical transport of synaptic proteins. In our view, the wiring of the brain is not as complex, and certainly not as integrated, as commonly assumed. Instead, the wiring pattern redundantly obeys a few general principles focused on high resolution rather than crossmodal integration. Basing cognitive functions, such as higher-order consciousness, solely on electrophysiological responses in neural networks thus wired may not suffice. On the other hand, coherent quantum computing, executed by tubulins, the protein subunits of microtubules, may exert en masse influences over the transport of many receptor and scaffolding proteins to various activated synapses, thereby accounting for the unity of conscious experience. We discuss the potential problems of quantum computing, such as decoherence, and also present counterarguments, as well as recent empirical results consistent with the notion that quantum computing in the interiors of neurons, in particular, within the interiors of dendrites may indeed be possible.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2J1, Canada

    Jack A. Tuszynski

  2. Behavioral Neuroscience Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1563, USA

    Nancy Woolf

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  1. Jack A. Tuszynski
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  2. Nancy Woolf
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Alberta, T6G 2J1, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Jack A. Tuszynski

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Tuszynski, J.A., Woolf, N. (2006). The Path Ahead. In: Tuszynski, J.A. (eds) The Emerging Physics of Consciousness. The Frontiers Collection. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-36723-3_1

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