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A Quantum Theory of Consciousness

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Abstract

The relationship between quantum collapse and consciousness is reconsidered under the assumption that quantum collapse is an objective dynamical process. We argue that the conscious observer can have a distinct role from the physical measuring device during the process of quantum collapse owing to the intrinsic nature of consciousness; the conscious observer can know whether he is in a definite state or a quantum superposition of definite states, while the physical measuring device cannot “know”. As a result, the consciousness observer can distinguish the definite states and their quantum superposition, while the physical measuring device without consciousness cannot do. This provides a possible quantum physical method to distinguish man and machine. The new result also implies that consciousness has causal efficacies in the physical world when considering the existence of quantum collapse. Accordingly consciousness is not reducible or emergent, but a new fundamental property of matter. This may establish a quantum basis for panpsychism, and make it be a promising solution to the hard problem of consciousness. Furthermore, it is suggested that a unified theory of matter and consciousness includes two parts: one is the psychophysical principle or corresponding principle between conscious content and matter state, and the other is the complete quantum evolution of matter state, which includes the definite nonlinear evolution element introduced by consciousness and relating to conscious content. Lastly, some experimental schemes are presented to test the proposed quantum theory of consciousness.

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Notes

  1. Even though this is possible for a conscious being, it is impossible for a physical measuring device according to the existing physical theories. As thus, the conscious being also has a distinct effect from the physical measuring device, i.e., that he can know the random collapse result beforehand.

  2. Gao (2004a) gave a more detailed demonstration of this conclusion.

  3. We note that the calculation here is still very crude. We omit the influence of other factors (e.g. thermal noise) on the energy difference between the two conscious perception states, which is assumed to be small enough at least in some controllable situations.

  4. The subjects should be unfamiliar with each other before the experiment. This can be tested by the phase incoherence of their brain waves.

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Acknowledgments

I am very grateful to the referee whose comments helped to improve the clarity and understandability of the exposition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Electronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, LongZeYuan 24-3-501, ChangPing District, Beijing, 102208, P.R. China

    Shan Gao

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  1. Shan Gao
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Correspondence to Shan Gao.

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Gao, S. A Quantum Theory of Consciousness. Minds & Machines 18, 39–52 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11023-007-9084-0

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