Hyperphysics, Morphic Resonance, and Quantum Brain Dynamics (Part 3)

Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2019

Synchronization, harmonization, vibrations, or simply resonance in its most general sense seems to have an integral relationship with consciousness itself. One of the possible "neural correlates of consciousness" in mammalian brains is a specific combination of gamma, beta and theta electrical synchrony. More broadly, we see similar kinds of resonance patterns in living and non-living structures of many types. What clues can resonance provide about the nature of consciousness more generally? This paper provides an overview of resonating structures in the fields of neuroscience, biology and physics and offers a possible solution to what we see as the "easy part" of the "Hard Problem" of consciousness, which is generally known as the "combination problem." The combination problem asks: how do micro-conscious entities combine into a higher-level macro-consciousness? The proposed solution in the context of mammalian consciousness suggests that a shared resonance is what allows different parts of the brain to achieve a phase transition in the speed and bandwidth of information flows between the constituent parts. This phase transition allows for richer varieties of consciousness to arise, with the character and content of that consciousness in each moment determined by the particular set of constituent neurons. We also offer more general insights into the ontology of consciousness and suggest that consciousness manifests as a continuum of increasing richness in all physical processes, distinguishing our view from emergentist materialism. We refer to this approach, a meta-synthesis, as a (general) resonance theory of consciousness. We offer some suggestions for testing the theory.

In this chapter I examine seven clues to the nature of consciousness and explore what they reveal about the underlying physical substrate of consciousness. The consciousness clues are: it impacts upon the world; it is a property of living brains but no other structure; brain activity may be conscious or unconscious; the conscious mind appears to be serial; learning requires consciousness but recall doesn't; conscious information is bound; and consciousness correlates with synchronous firing of neurons. I discuss field theories of consciousness and introduce the conscious electromagnetic field (CEMI) theory that suggests that consciousness is a product of the brain's electromagnetic field. I show that the CEMI field theory successfully accounts for each of the seven clues to the nature of consciousness. Finally, I show that although current quantum mechanical theories of consciousness are also field theories, they are physical untenable and should be discarded.

Quantum field theory applied to the electromagnetic field describes all physical phenomena involving electrons and photons , and is called quantum electrodynamics, abbreviated QED. Stuart, Takahashi, and Umezawa (1978; 1979) propose a mechanism of human memory and consciousness consistent with quantum field theory which they have called quantum brain dynamics (QBD). They go on to describe a theory in which the polarization of water molecules plays an exceptional part, and on the macro level produces a single resonant water "macromolecule" in bodies of living, water based creatures. Within this polarized, non-local H2O quantum field is embedded an electromagnetic field in the form of a plasma field.

Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2021

The goal of this work is to compile the basic components for the construction of an electromagnetic field theory of consciousness that meets the standards of a fundamental theory. An essential cornerstone of the conceptual framework is the vacuum state of quantum electrodynamics which, contrary to the classical notion of the vacuum, can be viewed as a vibrant ocean of energy, termed zero-point field (ZPF). Being the fundamental substrate mediating the electromagnetic force, the ubiquitous ZPF constitutes the ultimate bedrock of all electromagnetic phenomena. In particular, resonant interaction with the ZPF is critical for understanding rapidly forming, long-range coherent activity patterns that are characteristic of brain dynamics. Assuming that the entire phenomenal color palette is rooted in the vibrational spectrum of the ZPF and that each normal mode of the ZPF is associated with an elementary shade of consciousness, it stands to reason that conscious states are caused by the coupling of the brain to a particular set of normal modes selectively filtered from the full frequency spectrum of the ZPF. From this perspective, the brain is postulated to function as a resonant oscillator that couples to a specific range of ZPF modes, using these modes as a keyboard for the composition of an enormous variety of phenomenal states. Theoretical considerations suggest that the brain-ZPF interface is controlled by altering the concentrations of neurotransmitters, placing the detailed study of the neurotransmitter-ZPF interaction at the center of future research activities.

JMN, 2023

This pioneering research on how specific molecules deep inside our brains form a dynamic information holarchy in phase space, linking mind and consciousness, is not only provocative but also revolutionary. Holonomic is a dynamic encapsulation of the holonic view that originates from the word "holon" and designates a holarchical rather than a hierarchical, dynamic brain organization to encompass multiscale effects. The unitary nature of consciousness being interconnected stems from a multiscalar organization of the brain. We aim to give a holonomic modification of the thermodynamic approach to the problem of consciousness using spatiotemporal intermittency. Starting with quasiparticles as the minimalist material composition of the dynamical brain where interferences patterns between incoherent waves of quasiparticles and their quantum-thermal fluctuations constrain the kinetic internal energy of endogenous molecules through informational channels of the negentropically-derived quantum potential. This indicates that brains are not multifractal involving avalanches but are multiscalar, suggesting that unlike the hologram, where the functional interactions occur in the spectral domain, the spatiotemporal binding is multiscalar because of self-referential amplification occurring via long-range correlative information. The associated negentropic entanglement permeates the unification of the functional information architecture across multiple scales. As such, the holonomic brain theory is suitable for active consciousness, proving that consciousness is not fundamental. The holonomic model of the brain's internal space is nonmetric and nonfractal. It contains a multiscalar informational structure decoded by intermittency spikes in the fluctuations of the negentropically-derived quantum potential. It is therefore, a more realistic approach than the platonic models in phase space.

The recent controversy of applicability of quantum formalism to brain dynamics has been critically analyzed. PELLIONISZ and LLINÁS (1982) proposed a functional geometry to understand the internal representation of the events associated to the space-timing of moving objects in the external world. The joint representation of space and time associated to an event as understood by the brain is shown to be different from that understood in modern physics. This indicates that the four-dimensional geometry i.e. Minkowski geometry is not an appropriate description for the internal world. If it is to be the case, the applicability of any kind of quantum field theory in modeling brain function has to be analyzed with great care. Here, the issue of applicability of quantum mechanics to brain function has been discussed in general, from an anatomical perspective and then particular emphasis has been given to the applicability of quantum field theory.

Notes, thoughts and considerations on the implications of quantum dynamics, quantum biology and physics in the study of the basics of neurophysics.

Integrated Research in Health and Disease , 2023

The exploration of quantum consciousness and its implications on brain function has yielded profound insights into the complex interplay between quantum physics and neuroscience. In recent years, quantum effects have been identified in critical biological processes, including vision through photoreceptors, olfaction via quantum tunnelling, and avian navigation through quantum entanglement. Neuronal avalanches, characterized by their variable sizes, have been revealed as a fundamental aspect of brain activity, operating at different critical states. Quantum fluctuations, operating at an ultramicroscopic scale, have been proposed to play a pivotal role in tipping the balance between these critical states, thereby altering the state of consciousness. This delicate equilibrium between quantum chaos and stability suggests that quantum dynamics could orchestrate significant changes in the synchronization of neuronal firing patterns, consequently impacting cognitive functions, behaviour, and the state of consciousness itself. This review navigates the intricate terrain of quantum consciousness, offering a comprehensive overview of its relevance to biology, cognitive processes, and the broader understanding of consciousness itself.

Open Journal of Philosophy, 2016

In this article, I present a novel approach to the scientific understanding of consciousness. It is based on the hypothesis that the full range of phenomenal qualities is built into the frequency spectrum of a ubiquitous background field and proceeds on the assumption that conscious systems employ a universal mechanism by means of which they are able to extract phenomenal nuances selectively from this field. I set forth that in the form of the zero-point field (ZPF) physics can offer a promising candidate that is qualified for playing the dual role as both the carrier of energy and consciousness. The appropriate mechanism, which rests upon the principle of dy-namical coupling of ZPF modes, is a unique feature of quantum systems, suggesting that the dividing line between conscious and non-conscious systems is defined by the differentiation between quantum systems and classical systems. The presence of this mechanism in the brain is supported by the neurophysiological body of evidence, leading to a consistent explanation of the dynamical properties of the neural correlates of consciousness. Building on these findings, I lay the foundations for the conceptually coherent integration of consciousness into the physical worldview, derive an indicator for the quantity of consciousness of a given system, and outline the further steps toward a theory of consciousness.