Susan Pockett and others have claimed that ‘consciousness is the electromagnetic field of the brain’. She goes on to claim that qualia are spatially patterned electromagnetic fields. She also asserts that they are produced classically and that ‘the quantum spatial scale is of no relevance to consciousness’. I think the electromagnetic field theory probably has a lot of truth to it but that there is also a lot more to consciousness. I have difficulty believing that the quantum scale is not involved in qualia. Is there anyone out there who could do some calculations to convince me? Pockett’s claim Is made here
Dear Anne,
We need new mechanisms of neural communications other than the presently known electrochemical mechanisms, I don't know If is that neuroscientists will mount a search for these new and exotic mechanisms soon to find the relevance to consciousness.
The proteins found in all cells, have properties that could conceivably be useful for computation within individual neurons,But while it may be conceivable that micro tubules maintain quantum coherence within a neuron, it is difficult to imagine how this coherence can be maintained across neurons, so must the quantum coherence must leap the synaptic barrier between neuron and neuron.
Regards,
Thanks for your reply Ali. I am interested in possible quantum effects in consciousness however they might occur. As a physicist what do you think of the possibility that the qualia themselves (not what’s happening in the brain) involve the quantum spatial scale? After all how is it possible that electromagnetic fields are conscious? The world is experienced as being in the world. We must somehow project the world into the world. And all the features back onto the actual features. Does the redness of an object have a basis in reality - is it the virtual photons of the electromagnetic field? At what scale do they exist?
Karl we can’t assume that the quantum level is necessary to explain qualia. Everything needs the quantum level to exist but is It necessary to include it in a theory of quali or can the theory like Einstein’s theory of relativity only use classical physics? This is what I have been told by every physicist I have asked my question to. That qualia only require classical physics to explain.
Concerning your July 13, 2018 answer, I would argue that we need to differentiate among different types or levels of consciousness. Assuming that consciousness has an ontological status all we can do is to experience, and articulate it, at the human level. My question is, will it do to replace neural correlates of consciousness with quanta correlates? On that, we now have a good idea what those microtubules of Hameroof and Penrose look like, thanks to Xiaowei Zhuang of Harvard University who took the first clear picture of them:
https://nordiclifescience.org/lennart-nilsson-award-awarded-xiaowei-zhuang/
Giving consciousness an ontological status, along thee lines of Joachim Keppler here on RG would cut through much of the mysteries surrounding consciousness.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Physical Sciences
- Electromagnetics
- Electromagnetic Fields