John Benjamins Publishing Company
What is consciousness?
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Abstract
The quantum holographic model described provides mathematically founded specifications in terms of physical laws for the nature of information, knowledge, qualia, intelligence, the self and consciousness. It explains how a brain/mind, its neurons, dendrites, synapses, etc may be postulated to work, so as to explain the well known binding problem. It sheds light on the fact that brains can be so much more versatile, competent, and efficient than their digital information processing counterparts, in relation to perception, cognition, language and intelligence. Further, it provides a methodology, by means of which to predict the information processing morphology and signal dynamics of such brains, i.e. their neuroinformatics on various scales, so as to be validatable against the experimental facts of neurophysiology, neuropsychology, etc. The paper begins with an explanation of general scientific principles and concepts associated with the model, and supporting evidence is described. It ends with a proposal by means of which it can be further experimentally validated. This proposal concerns predicting the existence and the properties of microtubules internal to the axon of the neuron. Such a prediction provides an independent confirmation of the long held, but still controversial hypothesis of Hameroff and Penrose, that such axonal microtubules are a quantum mechanism fundamental to consciousness in higher organisms, such as humans.
Abstract
The quantum holographic model described provides mathematically founded specifications in terms of physical laws for the nature of information, knowledge, qualia, intelligence, the self and consciousness. It explains how a brain/mind, its neurons, dendrites, synapses, etc may be postulated to work, so as to explain the well known binding problem. It sheds light on the fact that brains can be so much more versatile, competent, and efficient than their digital information processing counterparts, in relation to perception, cognition, language and intelligence. Further, it provides a methodology, by means of which to predict the information processing morphology and signal dynamics of such brains, i.e. their neuroinformatics on various scales, so as to be validatable against the experimental facts of neurophysiology, neuropsychology, etc. The paper begins with an explanation of general scientific principles and concepts associated with the model, and supporting evidence is described. It ends with a proposal by means of which it can be further experimentally validated. This proposal concerns predicting the existence and the properties of microtubules internal to the axon of the neuron. Such a prediction provides an independent confirmation of the long held, but still controversial hypothesis of Hameroff and Penrose, that such axonal microtubules are a quantum mechanism fundamental to consciousness in higher organisms, such as humans.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Biological feasibility of quantum approaches to consciousness 1
- The Natural Philosophy and Physics of Consciousness 63
- Quantum Brain Dynamics and Consciousness 83
- Neuropsychological Investigations 117
- What is consciousness? 145
- Thinking together quantum brain dynamics and postmodernism 175
- Consciousness and non-hierarchical physics 191
- Time and the Laws of Nature 219
- Matter, Mind and the quantum 227
- What is it not Like to be a Brain? 257
- On the nature of anamalous phenomena 269
- The philosophy of consciousness, ‘deep’ teleology and objective selection 293
- Name index 313
- Subject index 317
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Biological feasibility of quantum approaches to consciousness 1
- The Natural Philosophy and Physics of Consciousness 63
- Quantum Brain Dynamics and Consciousness 83
- Neuropsychological Investigations 117
- What is consciousness? 145
- Thinking together quantum brain dynamics and postmodernism 175
- Consciousness and non-hierarchical physics 191
- Time and the Laws of Nature 219
- Matter, Mind and the quantum 227
- What is it not Like to be a Brain? 257
- On the nature of anamalous phenomena 269
- The philosophy of consciousness, ‘deep’ teleology and objective selection 293
- Name index 313
- Subject index 317
