Quantum walks in brain microtubules - A biomolecular basis for quantum cognition?

Stuart Hameroff

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cognitive decisions are best described by quantum mathematics. Do quantum information devices operate in the brain? What would they look like? Fuss and Navarro describe quantum lattice registers in which quantum superpositioned pathways interact (compute/integrate) as 'quantum walks' akin to Feynman's path integral in a lattice (e.g. the 'Feynman quantum chessboard'). Simultaneous alternate pathways eventually reduce (collapse), selecting one particular pathway in a cognitive decision, or choice. This paper describes how quantum walks in a Feynman chessboard are conceptually identical to 'topological qubits' in brain neuronal microtubules, as described in the Penrose-Hameroff 'Orch OR' theory of consciousness.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)91-97
Number of pages7
JournalTopics in Cognitive Science
Volume6
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Agency
  • Consciousness
  • Dendritic integration
  • Microtubules
  • Orch OR
  • Quantum cognition
  • Quantum walk
  • Tubulin
  • Volition

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Linguistics and Language
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Artificial Intelligence

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