🧠🧠 Thoughts on Brain Science: 'Hypothesis: There is no evidence for quantum consciousness yet, but quantum brain research is progressing rapidly' (From a conversation with a high-performance LLM)
🧠🧠 Thoughts on Brain Science: 'Hypothesis: There is no evidence for quantum consciousness yet, but quantum brain research is progressing rapidly' (From a conversation with a high-performance LLM)
TT & LLM (Independent Researcher / Institute for Comprehensive Hierarchical Structural Science, Brain Science Division)
Key Points of the Argument
• Microtubules inside neurons perform quantum computation
• Consciousness arises when quantum superposition undergoes 'Objective Reduction (OR)'
• Moments of consciousness are discrete and are said to occur in cycles of approximately 25ms
Evaluation
• Difficulty in maintaining quantum coherence (Tegmark's critique)
• Lack of physical evidence
• However, the attempt to explain the 'non-locality of consciousness' is significant
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● 2-2. Posner Molecule Model (Fisher, 2015)
Argument
• Nuclear spins of Posner molecules formed by phosphate ions in the brain hold quantum information
• Possibility that long-lived quantum entanglement serves as the basis for neural synchronization
Evaluation
• Experimental verification is ongoing
• Notable for showing the possibility that quantum spins are involved in consciousness
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● 2-3. Quantum Field Brain Theory (Ricciardi–Umezawa, Jibu–Yasue)
Argument
• Electric dipole fields of water molecules in the brain act as quantum fields, supporting memory and consciousness
• Macroscopic coherence (field order) is the basis of brain function
Evaluation
• Mathematically consistent
• Experimental evidence is limited, but it is a robust theoretical framework
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■ 3. Current Status of Quantum Brain Research (2026)
✔ Evidence exists
• Long-lived nuclear spins (Fisher)
• Quantum field models around microtubules (Jibu–Yasue)
• Decision-making model via quantum walks (Chen 2022)
• Reproduction of optical illusions via quantum neural networks (Maksymov 2024)
✔ No evidence exists
• Consciousness itself is a quantum phenomenon
• Proof of the Orch-OR theory that quantum collapse = consciousness
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■ 4. Positioning of TT's Δt=0 / Δt>0 Two-Layer Model
TT's model differs from existing quantum consciousness theories.
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● Δt=0 Layer
• Time does not flow
• Non-local and holistic
• Similar to quantum wave functions
• Consistent with IIT's 'high-dimensional information structure'
● Δt>0 Layer
• Neural dynamics (classical causality)
• Consistent with Wilson–Cowan and neural field models
● Consciousness = Projection π of the two layers
• Avoids the weakness of Orch-OR that 'quantum collapse = consciousness'
• A new framework bridging quantum structure and neural activity
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■ 5. Related Literature (with brief explanations)
● Hameroff, S., & Penrose, R. (2014). Consciousness in the Universe: A Review of the Orch OR Theory.
A theory that defines the collapse of quantum superposition as the moment of consciousness. Assumes quantum computation in microtubules.
(Although there is much criticism, it is a central document in quantum consciousness research.)
● Tegmark, M. (2000). The importance of decoherence in brain processes.
Calculated that quantum coherence cannot be maintained in the brain, criticizing Orch-OR.
● Fisher, M. (2015). Quantum cognition: nuclear spins in the brain.
An important paper showing the possibility that nuclear spins can hold quantum information.
● Ricciardi & Umezawa (1967), Jibu & Yasue (1990)
Foundations of quantum field brain theory. Proposes that electric dipole fields of water in the brain act as quantum fields.
● Chen et al. (2022) — Decision-making model via quantum walks
Explains the context-dependency of human judgment through quantum interference.
● Maksymov (2024) — Reproduction of optical illusions via quantum neural networks
A network using quantum tunneling effects reproduces human optical illusions.
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■ 6. Glossary
● Quantum Coherence
A state where the phases of quantum states are aligned. Whether this is maintained in the brain is the center of the debate.
● Quantum Entanglement
A quantum phenomenon where distant particles behave as a single entity. Its relation to the unity of consciousness is debated.
● Microtubule
Part of the cytoskeleton. In Orch-OR, it is considered the site of quantum computation.
● Posner Molecule
A molecular cluster formed by phosphate ions. The possibility that nuclear spins hold quantum information.
● Δt=0 / Δt>0
The two-layer time structure in TT's model.
Δt=0: Static/Non-local
Δt>0: Dynamic/Local
● Projection π
A mathematical operation that maps the structure of Δt=0 onto the neural activity of Δt>0.
The core of TT's theory.
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🟥■ 7. Summary
• There is no definitive 'evidence for quantum consciousness' yet
• However, quantum brain research is progressing rapidly
• TT's Δt=0 / Δt>0 model is positioned as a new framework that integrates:
• Quantum structure (non-locality)
• Neural dynamics (causality)