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Perspectives on Neuroscience
Published on: July 31, 2007
Consciousness, biology and quantum hypotheses
Bernard J Baars1, David B Edelman
1The Neurosciences Institute, San Diego, CA 92121, United States. baars@nsi.edu
Physics of Life Reviews
|August 29, 2012
Summary
Consciousness is a complex biological process in animal brains, not explained by quantum mechanics. Current theories fail to distinguish conscious from unconscious brain events, necessitating biological explanations.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Philosophy of Mind
Background:
- Natural phenomena are reducible to quantum events, but higher levels of analysis are often more effective for complex systems like biological organisms.
- Animal brains are highly organized, adaptive, information-preserving systems with massive neuronal networks crucial for goal-directed actions.
- Waking brains operate far from thermodynamic equilibrium, exhibiting sensitivity and adaptability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the nature of consciousness as a biological phenomenon.
- To evaluate quantum-based theories of consciousness, such as the Orch-OR hypothesis.
- To identify the empirical features that any adequate theory of consciousness must explain.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on neuroscience, cognitive science, and quantum mechanics.
- Analysis of the functional and structural properties of animal brains, particularly neuronal interactions.
- Critique of quantum-level proposals for consciousness based on empirical evidence.
Main Results:
- Consciousness is characterized as a specific type of brain event, occurring in the cortico-thalamic system and linked to attentional selection.
- Quantum-level proposals, like Orch-OR, do not adequately explain key features of consciousness, such as distinguishing conscious from unconscious events.
- While quantum mechanics is fundamental, current evidence does not support its direct role in generating conscious experience in the way proposed by some theories.
Conclusions:
- Conscious cognition is a distinct biological event requiring cognitive-biological explanations.
- Current quantum theories of consciousness lack empirical support and fail to account for essential characteristics of conscious experience.
- Future research should focus on biological mechanisms to understand consciousness, as quantum explanations remain speculative.
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