Re: Quantum Neurophysics
and the Measurement Problem

Date: Thu, 25 Jan 1996 12:44:42 -0800
From: Gordon Globus <gglobus@orion.oac.uci.edu>
To: quantum-d@teleport.com
Subject: Re: Quantum Neurophysics and the Measurement Problem

with reference to a previous posting:
http://www.teleport.com/~rhett/quantum-d/posts/globus_1-22-96.html 

Gordon Globus:

>> 	In QBD brain biosubstrates spontaneously generate various 
>> second-order quantum fields that interact. Stones, silicon computers 
>> and brains all come under first-order quantum field description, but 
>> stones and computers don't themselves hoist second order quantum 
>> fields (whatever the computer might simulate), whereas brains do.
>> Each of the participating second-order quantum fields subserves a
>> different function, are "representatives" of memory, cognition, and
>> reality. Perception of the world *results* from the quantum field
>> interaction, or better, the perceptible world *unfolds* from the
>> quantum field interaction (or even better, "thrownness in the world"
>> continually unfolds from the interaction). Paraphrasing Neisser in
>> "Cognition and Reality," perception is where quantum cognition,
>> quantum memory and quantum reality meet.
>
> From Mitchell Porter:
>
> A few questions:
>
> 1. What's a "second-order quantum field"? 
>
> 2. How is it that some things (brains) produce them, whereas other
> things (computers) don't?
>
> 3. What advantage do second-order quantum fields have over first-order
> ones in explaining perception or cognition?

A few answers from Gordon Globus:

1. and 2. Suppose that we had a little heap of tubulin dimers and 
separately  some water molecules in an eye dropper. All this would 
come under first-order quantum field description for macroscopic 
objects. But now suppose the tubulins are organized into a microtubule 
with the water molecules inside. Here the quantum dynamical system of 
water molecules and the quantized electromagnetic field confined within 
the microtubules manifest a specific collective dynamics in which 
incoherent, thermal and disordered molecular, electromagnetic or atomic 
energy is transformed into coherent photons (Jibu et al, 1994). This is 
called "superradiance." The coherent photons created by superradiance 
penetrate perfectly along the hollow core of the microtubule which acts 
as a wave guide. This quantum effect is called "self-induced 
transparency." In this illustration, superradiance and self-induced 
transparency are second-order quantum field phenomena, sustained by 
the organization of biomolecules. Water inside the eye dropper does not 
yield cooperative quantum dynamics, nor does my desktop computer 
manifest collective dynamics.

3. Advantages of second-order quantum fields for explaining perception 
and cognition are difficult to simply list, without bringing in a 
tremendous amount of context, both philosophical and scientific, and 
challenging a number of common sense assumptions and staunch 
philosophical attitudes. So let me just amplify the point made in my 
original communication.

If we want to explain perception of the world in first-order quantum 
field terms, then ontology becomes dual--unobservable wave functions 
and observable collapses--or proliferates wildly into "many worlds" 
(Everett) or "many minds" (Albert). But if perception of the world is 
explained in second-order quantum field terms--as a result of second-
order quantum field interactions--then the primary ontology is unbroken 
(wave functions never collapse). So speaking metaphorically, at the 
primary level there is a "dark" quantum reality of microscopic and 
macroscopic systems under first-order quantum field description. But at 
certain unique locations second-order quantum fields are hoisted and 
their interactions supported so that the world "lights up." (Cf. 
Heidegger's calling *Dasein* a *Lichtung*, a clearing or lighted place 
where worlds are disclosed,  and Castaneda's sorcerer's insistence that 
we are "bubbles of perception" floating in an unfathomable *nagual*.) 

Not only do we avoid a primary ontological duality with this account, 
we avoid panpsychism, which would attribute some ur-consciousness 
even to stones (essentially because there is no principled reason to draw 
a line above which consciousness appears). A system that does not hoist 
interacting second-order quantum fields can't perceive a world, 
however, so stones and computers can't get into the perception game. 

4. One last point: E. Weinmann finds me (in a personal communication) 
guilty of "idealist metaphysics." I probably brought this on myself by 
references to *maya* in my original communication. *Maya* is 
commonly (wrongly?) understood as the idealistic doctrine that the 
world is illusory and only mind is real--but that is not my position, 
which is staunchly realistic. I say that the world-in-common is illusory--
here I invoked "maya"--but true reality is properly described in quantum 
field terms. Mind, consciousness, experience, self, meaning, qualia and 
world dis-closure in parallel are all second-order phenomena.  

Jibu, M., Hagan, S., Hameroff, S.R., Pribram, K.H. and Yasue, K. 
(1994) Quantum optical coherence in cytoskeletal microtubules: 
Implications for brain function. BioSystems 32: 195-209.

Globey