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Microtubules and Consciousness: Exploring Energy Transfer and Quantum Theories
Description
Put simply, the brain is not too warm or wet for consciousness to exist as a wave that connects with the universe.
For decades, Penrose has been working with anesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff on a theory of consciousness called Orchestrated Objective Reduction (Orch OR). Penrose primarily handles the physics of Orch OR, whereas Hameroff handles the biology. Their theory addressed serious gaps in established scientific frameworks spanning physics, neuroscience and psychology. All, some or none of the hypotheses in this theory might prove out experimentally. See the paper below as a step towards proof.
RESEARCH ARTICLE January 12, 2023
Electronic Energy Migration in Microtubules
- Aarat P. Kalra, Alfy Benny, Sophie M. Travis, Eric A. Zizzi, Austin Morales-Sanchez, Daniel G. Oblinsky, Travis J. A. Craddock, Stuart R. Hameroff, M. Bruce MacIver, Jack A. Tuszyński, Sabine Petry, Roger Penrose, Gregory D. Scholes*
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acscentsci.2c01114
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They were testing whether the energy transfer from light in the microtubule structure could remain coherent as it does in plant cells. The idea was that if the light lasted long enough before being emitted—a fraction of a second was enough—it indicated quantum coherence.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a45574179/architecture-of-consciousness/
Andréa Morris, "Testing a time-jumping, Multiverse-killing, Consciousness-spawning theory of reality," Forbes, Oct 23, 2023.
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