Chemical synapses are clearly necessary to the operation of Earth brains as they have been conserved omni-presently and refined and differentiated for hundreds of millions of years.
1) The synaptic gap is only on the order of ten times the size of a neurotransmitter molecule, and anchored to hold its dimension. This means the gap is a tightly-controlled busy place with dense chemistry going on. That supports the possibility that the "neural" correlate of consciousness is entirely disconnected from the neuron, and an effect of molecular goings-on in the gap. We know that some neurons correlate to consciousness and some do not, and that different neurotransmitters are used by different neuron types, and that some neural circuits produce pain and others, pleasure.
2) The actions between the neurons means there will also be electric potential swings across the gap (which also influence the closely-spaced molecules therein).
3) The scales and densities involved also suggest the possibility of multimolecular quantum effects.
For consciousness to both arise from and affect electrochemical brain activity, there must be a locus of rich enough physics and with sufficient opportunity for continued evolution.
Dear Roman I strongly agree with your interpretation that consciousness is not directly related to the neuron.
In principle the electric potentials could serve to orient (and distort) polar molecules to support ensuing quantum operations.
Please, read just the last sentence from Walter G. Sannita. Consciousness today. J Rehabil Med 2012; 44: 484–486:
To this end, a proper definition of consciousness and an up-to-date
scrutiny of its descriptors are needed in order to be able to
think scientifically about consciousness and to design experimental studies
As consciousness is in relation to other things, objects, why does it have to be exclusively centred in the brain? I am not sure that is how consciousness works. Does each individual walk around with consciousness packed into chemical reactions? I am for example conscious of self, but does that really mean some compartment in grey matter and its varied substance? I am conscious of self in relation to say my body, external phenomenon and other varied stimuli.
Dear Stanley, you say "I am not sure that is how consciousness works." But do you know what the consciousness IS? What are we speaking about? Could you explain, please?
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