Quantum Consciousness and Neuroscience

Introduction 

Quantum Consciousness and Neuroscience fascinating and complex topic that bridges neuroscience and quantum mechanics. This theory suggests that consciousness arises from quantum processes within the brain, particularly involving microtubules—protein structures within neurons. Proponents of this theory, like physicist Roger Penrose and anesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff, propose that consciousness results from quantum computations in these microtubules. Recent research by Wellesley College professor Mike Wiest and his team found that drugs binding to microtubules delayed the onset of unconsciousness under anesthesia. This supports the idea that anesthetics act on microtubules, lending weight to the quantum model of consciousness. Ref: Wellesley - Mike Wiest

Quantum Consciousness

Quantum Consciousness Theory: This theory proposes that consciousness arises from quantum processes within neurons, particularly involving microtubules. Physicist Roger Penrose and anesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff are key proponents of this idea, suggesting that quantum computations in microtubules may be the source of consciousness.

In Recent Research: Professor Mike Wiest and his team at Wellesley College found that drugs binding to microtubules delayed the onset of unconsciousness under anesthesia. This supports the hypothesis that anesthetics act on microtubules, lending credibility to the quantum model of consciousness. 

Source: Penrose, R., & Hameroff, S. "Consciousness in the Universe: A Review of the 'Orch OR' Theory"

Source: Wiest, M. "Anesthetic Actions on Microtubules and Consciousness"

Absolute Left-Brain / Right-Brain Theory That Was Previously Suggested

There is no such thing as a theory that suggests there is a left and right brain. This theory is work of Roger Sperry, a neuropsychologist and Nobel laureate, who conducted split-brain research in the 1960s and 1970s. His research showed that the two hemispheres of the brain can function independently and are specialized for different tasks.

Modern neuroscience has shown that reality is more complex. Both hemispheres are involved in most cognitive tasks, and the brain works as a highly integrated system. The idea of being "left-brained" or "right-brained" is now considered an oversimplification.

So, there is no left and right brain where it was initially thought that creativity and logical talent are different work parts of brain, for brain function is a whole thing that works together on neurons sparks, logical and creative thinking is a whole set. The brain functions as a cohesive unit, with both hemispheres playing essential roles in various tasks.

Neuroscience 

Pic credit: Drawing by Santiago Ramón y Cajal (1899) of neurons in the pigeon cerebellum

Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. It's a multidisciplinary field that combines various branches of science, such as biology, psychology, chemistry, physics, and computer science, to understand how the nervous system functions and how it relates to behaviour and cognition.

Ref: Neuroscience - Wikipedia

Ancient History Of Neuroscience 

The study of the nervous system dates back to ancient times, with early civilizations showing remarkable interest in understanding the brain and its functions. The evolution of neuroscience is a testament to humanity's enduring curiosity and relentless pursuit of knowledge.

Ancient Egypt The earliest records of the nervous system study trace back to ancient Egypt, where trepanation—drilling or scraping a hole into the skull—was practiced during the Neolithic period. Manuscripts from 1700 BC reveal that Egyptians had some understanding of brain damage symptoms. However, they regarded the brain as mere cranial stuffing, removing it during mummification. The heart was believed to be the seat of intelligence, a notion reflected in their meticulous embalming practices, as documented by Herodotus.

Pic credit: Illustration from Gray's Anatomy (1918) of a lateral view of the human brain, featuring the hippocampus among other neuroanatomical features

Greek Contributions The view that the heart was the centre of consciousness persisted until the Greek physician Hippocrates challenged it. He proposed that the brain was involved with sensation and intelligence, arguing that the brain's proximity to sensory organs indicated its importance. Plato speculated that the brain housed the rational part of the soul, while Aristotle believed the heart was the centre of intelligence, with the brain regulating its heat. This heart-centric view remained dominant until the Roman physician Galen, through his observations of brain-injured gladiators, affirmed that mental faculties resided in the brain. 

The shift from seeing the brain as mere stuffing to recognizing its critical role in sensation and intelligence marked significant progress in early neuroscience. These early insights laid the foundation for future explorations into the brain's mysteries. 

Over time, brain research has gone through philosophical, experimental, and theoretical phases, with work on neural implants and brain simulation predicted to be important in the future.

Ancient Indian knowledge of neuroscience of Vedic Texts: dating back to around 3000-1000 BCE, contain early references to the study of consciousness. These texts, such as the Rigveda, Upanishads, and Brāhmanas, explore the nature of consciousness and its connection to the self.

Ātmavidyā: The Vedic texts claim to be the "science of self" or "consciousness science" (Ātmavidyā), focusing on understanding the nature of consciousness.

Philosophical Traditions: Samkhya-Yoga: This ancient Indian thought system provides rich psychological theories intertwined with religious and philosophical content. It addresses cognition, consciousness, and the effects of practices like meditation on cognition.

Yoga and Tantra: These traditions delve into the structural aspects of consciousness and the mind-body connection. Texts like the Yogavasistha and Tripurarahasya describe the nature of consciousness and its relation to the self.

Modern Connections: Neuroscience and Quantum Mechanics: There are intriguing parallels between ancient Indian theories of consciousness and modern insights from neuroscience and quantum mechanics. The Vedic view of consciousness as unitary and transcending the mind-matter split aligns with some contemporary scientific perspectives.

This Ancient Indian knowledge of neuroscience offers a unique and holistic approach to understanding the mind and consciousness, blending empirical observations with philosophical insights. In my personal opinion there are plenty of secrets to be revealed to the world based on ancient texts as such. But, Ancient text alone can not provide significant solutions for research-based cases, the modern technological world aids with brain scans and enhances understanding with deeper level 85% higher than ancients, although ancient texts have philosophical information which can decoded for behavioural psychology research and understanding. 

It took me 3 days and 4 hours of morning and evening routine cycling to enhance understanding from various online articles to decode some information which I believe could serve as accurate as it is. In my previous blog I had wanted to delve into the Quantum Consciousness dated 11-10-24 https://scificyog.blogspot.com/2024/10/ancient-quantum-theory-maharishi-kanada.html I found now a good time to come up with the writing about. Although this is not a research paper or proving a theory of any neuroscience research this information is to serve some understanding for anyone who reads, so, my apologies for plagiarism and if I left out to indicate citation, I'm being mindful of giving credit where it’s due. Ensuring proper citations respects the original authors' work but there are also adds to my own idea of conclusion from their finding. Ancient Indian knowledge of neuroscience offers a unique and holistic approach to understanding the mind and consciousness, blending empirical observations with philosophical insights.

pic credit: Human nervous system - Neuroscience - Wikipedia

The sense of the nervous system's is dynamic complexity is a formidable research challenge. Ultimately, neuroscientists would like to understand every aspect of the nervous system, including how it works, how it develops, how it malfunctions, and how it can be altered or repaired. Analysis of the nervous system is therefore performed at multiple levels, ranging from the molecular and cellular levels to the systems and cognitive levels. The specific topics that form the main focus of research change over time, driven by an ever-expanding base of knowledge and the availability of increasingly sophisticated technical methods. Improvements in technology have been the primary drivers of progress. Developments in electron microscopy, computer science, electronics, functional neuroimaging, and genetics and genomics have all been major drivers of progress.

Luigi Galvani's Pioneering Work

in the late 1700s set the stage for studying the electrical excitability of muscles and neurons. In 1843 Emil du Bois-Reymond demonstrated the electrical nature of the nerve signal, whose speed Hermann von Helmholtz proceeded to measure, and in 1875 Richard Caton found electrical phenomena in the cerebral hemispheres of rabbits and monkeys. Adolf Beck published in 1890 similar observations of spontaneous electrical activity of the brains of rabbits and dogs. Studies of the brain became more sophisticated after the invention of the microscope and the development of a staining procedure by Camillo Golgi during the late 1890s. The procedure used a silver chromate salt to reveal the intricate structures of individual neurons. His technique was used by Santiago Ramón y Cajal and led to the formation of the neuron doctrine, the hypothesis that the functional unit of the brain is the neuron. Golgi and Ramón y Cajal shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1906 for their extensive observations, descriptions, and categorizations of neurons throughout the brain.

 Blue pentagons – sodium ions; Purple squares – potassium ions; Yellow circles – chloride ions; Orange rectangles – membrane-impermeable anions (these arise from a variety of sources including proteins).
The large purple structure with an arrow represents a transmembrane potassium channel and the direction of net potassium movement. Pic credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Membrane_potential#Cell_excitability

Membrane potential (also transmembrane potential or membrane voltage) is the difference in electric potential between the interior and the exterior of a biological cell. It equals the interior potential minus the exterior potential. This is the energy (i.e. work) per charge which is required to move a (very small) positive charge at constant velocity across the cell membrane from the exterior to the interior. (If the charge is allowed to change velocity, the change of kinetic energy and production of radiation must be taken into account.)

Typical values of membrane potential, normally given in units of milli volts and denoted as mV, range from –80 mV to –40 mV. For such typical negative membrane potentials, positive work is required to move a positive charge from the interior to the exterior. However, thermal kinetic energy allows ions to overcome the potential difference. For a selectively permeable membrane, this permits a net flow against the gradient. This is a kind of osmosis.


Neural Circuits and Systems

The brain the a circuitry system that biologically works together, Systems neuroscience research centres on the structural and functional architecture of the developing human brain, and the functions of large-scale brain networks, or functionally connected systems within the brain. Alongside brain development, systems neuroscience also focuses on how the structure and function of the brain enable or restrict the processing of sensory information, using learned mental models of the world, to motivate behaviour.

Questions in systems neuroscience include how neural circuits are formed and used anatomically and physiologically to produce functions such as reflexes, multisensory integration, motor coordination, circadian rhythms, emotional responses, learning, and memory. In other words, this area of research studies how connections are made and morphed in the brain, and the effect it has on human sensation, movement, attention, inhibitory control, decision-making, reasoning, memory formation, reward, and emotion regulation.

Specific areas of interest for the field include observations of how the structure of neural circuits affects skill acquisition, how specialized regions of the brain develop and change (neuroplasticity), and the development of brain atlases, or wiring diagrams of individual developing brains.

The related fields of neuroethology and neuropsychology address the question of how neural substrates underlie specific animal and human behaviours. Neuroendocrinology and psychoneuroimmunology examine interactions between the nervous system and the endocrine and immune systems, respectively. Despite many advancements, the way that networks of neurons perform complex cognitive processes and behaviours is still poorly understood.

Computational Neuroscience

Questions in computational neuroscience can span a wide range of levels of traditional analysis, such as the development, structure, and cognitive functions of the brain. Research in this field utilizes mathematical models, theoretical analysis, and computer simulation to describe and verify biologically plausible neurons and nervous systems. For example, biological neuron models are mathematical descriptions of spiking neurons which can be used to describe both the behaviour of single neurons as well as the dynamics of neural networks. Computational neuroscience is often referred to as theoretical neuroscience.

Are Animals Do Have Consciousness Like Humans? 

While both animals and humans exhibit forms of consciousness, human consciousness is generally considered to be more complex and advanced. However, the similarities provide valuable insights into the nature of consciousness and our ethical responsibilities towards other sentient beings.

The relationship between consciousness and the soul is a topic that has been explored in both philosophical and scientific contexts. From a scientific standpoint, consciousness is often viewed as the result of neural processes within the brain. Researchers study how brain activity correlates with awareness, perception, and thought, seeking to understand the mechanisms that give rise to conscious experience.

Soul: In many religious and spiritual traditions, the soul is considered the essence of an individual, transcending physical existence and embodying the self, mind, or spirit.

Consciousness and Soul: Some philosophical and spiritual viewpoints suggest that consciousness is an expression of the soul. In this view, the soul might be seen as the true self, with consciousness being the awareness or experience of this self.

Bridging the Gap

Mystical Traditions: Various mystical and esoteric traditions often blend these perspectives, viewing consciousness as a bridge between the material brain and the immaterial soul.

Modern Thought: Contemporary thinkers sometimes explore the idea that consciousness could have a deeper, possibly non-physical dimension, which might align with certain interpretations of the soul.

While science typically explains consciousness in terms of brain function, many philosophical and spiritual traditions hold that consciousness is closely linked to the soul. The true nature of consciousness remains one of the most profound mysteries, and whether it is equivalent to the soul is a question that continues to inspire debate and exploration across various fields.

Perception of Soul in Indian Text:  Maharishi Kanada's philosophy integrates the concept of the soul (Atman) with his atomic theory. He proposed that the universe is composed of indivisible, eternal particles called atoms (paramanu), which combine in various ways to form complex substances.

In his view, the soul is an essential, eternal part of every living being, and understanding the nature of atoms and their interactions can lead to a deeper understanding of the soul and its relationship to the material world. This perspective aligns with the broader Hindu philosophy of seeking liberation (moksha) from the cycle of birth and death by realizing the true nature of the self (Atman). But on the other hand, his atomic theory predates similar ideas in Western science by thousands of years, highlighting the advanced nature of ancient Indian thought. Ref to my previous blog: https://scificyog.blogspot.com/2024/10/ancient-quantum-theory-maharishi-kanada.html

What Happens The Moment of Unconsciousness / After Death 

The question of what happens to the soul and consciousness after death has intrigued humanity for millennia. Different cultures, religions, and philosophies have provided varied interpretations and beliefs on this topic.

1. Hinduism and Buddhism:

   • Reincarnation: Both traditions believe in the cycle of rebirth. The soul (Atman in Hinduism, or the consciousness stream in Buddhism) is reborn into a new body based on karma (the accumulated actions of past lives).

   • Moksha/Nirvana: Liberation from the cycle of rebirth. Achieving enlightenment leads to a state of eternal peace and unity with the divine (Hinduism) or the cessation of suffering and individual consciousness (Buddhism).

2. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism:

   • Afterlife: These Abrahamic religions generally believe in an afterlife where the soul continues to exist. The soul is judged based on earthly deeds and is sent to heaven/paradise or hell.

   • Resurrection: In Christianity and Islam, there is a belief in bodily resurrection at the end of times, where the soul is reunited with a renewed body.

3. Secular and Scientific Perspectives:

   • Materialism: Some secular viewpoints hold that consciousness is a product of brain activity and ceases to exist when the brain dies. There is no continuation of consciousness after death.

   • Agnosticism: Some people remain uncertain about what happens after death, acknowledging that it remains one of life's greatest mysteries.

• Near-Death Experiences (NDEs): Some people report experiences during moments of clinical death that suggest a continuation of consciousness. These accounts are varied and often include sensations of peace, seeing bright light, or encountering deceased loved ones.

• Cultural Variations: Different cultures have their own unique interpretations of the afterlife. For example, ancient Egyptians believed in a detailed afterlife journey through the Duat to reach the eternal field of reeds.

The fate of the soul and consciousness after death is a profoundly complex and deeply personal subject. While science focuses on the physical aspects of death, spiritual and philosophical traditions provide a wide array of beliefs and explanations. Ultimately, what happens after death is a question that each individual may interpret based on their personal beliefs, faith, and experiences.

Scientific Perspective

1. Consciousness and Neuroscience: Modern science generally views consciousness as a product of neural activity rather than a separate particle. The brain's complex interactions give rise to conscious experience, but this view does not typically involve a soul as a particle.

2. Quantum Theories: Some speculative theories, such as those proposed by Roger Penrose and Stuart Hameroff, suggest that quantum processes in the brain could play a role in consciousness. However, these theories do not equate the soul with a particle but rather explore the potential quantum basis for conscious experience.

My Personal Opinion

The moment of death is unconscious. Can never be certain what comes after death. It is just a reminder that nothing is permanent. Doing good while alive is certain to leave something good for the future for others. Living life with moral values and a sense of humanity build heaven on earth before death. While I sought wise opinions from friend, came up with a wise answer:

"No one has gone to heaven or hell and come back to tell which is true or false.

it's a belief to make people walk the good moral path in this life but most do all the immoral deeds in the present world, pray constantly. 

The respective religious gurus will urge that. The guru's luxurious life depends on these teachings and the ignorance of their followers" 

What If Science Gives Valid Proof of Life After Death?

The moment science confirms the existence of life after death and moral conduct inflicting this afterlife system as many religions are empathising is the moment of breaking the beliefs of religions. In my own answer, The physiological fear of death keeps men from doing immoral activities which is why all religions talk about hell and heaven. There is no certainty of this system of hell or heaven in science but there are theories about dimensions that are beyond the reach of human consciousness, just like Michio Kaku's fish analogy there may be a different dimension but there is no validity to prove that there is afterlife. 

There has been significant research on what happens after death, particularly focusing on near-death experiences (NDEs) and out-of-body experiences (OBEs). 

Near-Death Experiences (NDEs)

• AWARE Study: Conducted by the University of Southampton, this large-scale study involved 2060 patients from 15 hospitals in the UK, USA, and Austria. The study aimed to explore the mental experiences of patients who underwent cardiac arrest. Results suggested that some patients had experiences compatible with OBEs, and these experiences were not merely hallucinatory.

• Dr. Sam Parnia's Research: Dr. Sam Parnia, an associate professor at New York University's Grossman School of Medicine, has conducted extensive research on NDEs. His studies have shown that some people can recall their experiences during cardiac arrest, which often include sensations like seeing a light or feeling a sense of peace.

• Psychological Studies: Research has shown that many people report experiences of interacting with deceased loved ones, often finding these experiences therapeutic. These after-death communication experiences can occur outside of grief and are sometimes reported by individuals who have not recently lost someone close to them

• Consensus Statement: Researchers have published a consensus statement emphasizing that neither physiological nor cognitive processes end with death, and systematic studies have not been able to disprove the reality of these experiences.

Conclusion

The exploration of neuroscience, from its ancient origins to the cutting-edge research of today, underscores humanity's enduring quest to understand the brain and consciousness. Ancient civilizations, such as those in Egypt and Greece, laid the foundational stones of this journey. The shift from believing the heart as the centre of intelligence to recognizing the brain's crucial role marked significant progress in our understanding.

As modern neuroscience continues to advance, theories such as quantum consciousness and the debunking of the left-brain/right-brain myth further illustrate the complexity and interconnectedness of the brain. Quantum consciousness, with its intriguing proposal that consciousness may arise from quantum processes within microtubules, challenges traditional views and opens new avenues for research and understanding. Concurrently, the holistic approach to brain function dismisses the oversimplified idea of hemispheric dominance, emphasizing the integrated nature of neural processes.

Computational neuroscience stands at the forefront of this evolution, utilizing mathematical models and simulations to decipher the brain's intricate workings. This field not only enhances our understanding of neurological functions and disorders but also informs advancements in artificial intelligence and neurotechnology.

Overall, the journey through neuroscience is a testament to human ingenuity and curiosity. It bridges ancient wisdom with modern science, revealing the profound complexities of the brain and consciousness. As we continue to explore and uncover the mysteries of the mind, the potential for groundbreaking discoveries and innovations remains boundless.

12AM  11-11-24