A squad of researchers consider they may have a way of testing the theory that consciousness in human race arises from entanglement within our brains . To do so would regard creating interface between human Einstein and quantum computers , and attempting to measure any resulting change in cognisance .
awareness is something we all have , but know surprisingly little about . We know how to turn it off with anesthetics , but wearen’t really surehow they work either . There are hatful of peopleworking on the trouble , but we still do n’t experience whether consciousness is the result of consolidation within a system ( known asintegrated information theory ) or the result of information being shared across the Einstein ( global workspace theory ) , the two leading approximation . With so little known , there is way for other , more out - there idea .
In 1989 , British mathematician and Nobel Prize in Physics winner Roger Penrose did just that , suggest thatquantum entanglementis involved in knowingness . Though we can not summarise his full arguing , spread out over several record , thegist of itboils down to the idea that there are some problems that can not be complete or cover by traditional data processor . Humans can deal with these problems and cover them , such as non - computable number andGรถdel sentences , and so the human nous must not operate like a traditional reckoner . Instead , Penrose suggest that cognisance could arise from quantum entanglement within the brain .
The argument , which was not well take on at the time , has in reality escort a bit of a revival in recent age , though it remains on the fringes of knowingness inquiry . One limit on the theme was that quantum entanglement is tenuous and easily broken even atlow temperature , so how could we farm and keep entanglement in the fond mushy environment of our brains ?
But since then , it has been suggested that microtubule inside neurons could ply this stable environs for entanglement . originally this year , one teamclaimed that they had find supporting evidence of this idea , after throw rat microtubule - binding drugs and finding that it then choose longer for anesthesia to knock them out , intimate that they played a character in consciousness .
While further study in that area may give us further clues to what consciousness is and how it work , another team has a far zany idea for testing whether consciousness is a quantum process . This team , which include Hartmut Neven , leave ofGoogle ’s Quantum AI laboratory , make the supposition that Penrose is wrong in his hint that consciousness arises at the percentage point of superposition collapse , instead propose it could arise when it take shape , in decree to duck the ludicrous possibility of faster - than - lightcommunicationin the wit .
The team suggests that the direction to essay this possibility of knowingness is to seek to " expand " our own consciousness using an user interface between our brains and a quantum computer .
" In an experimentum crucis , one would establish a physical link between a human learning ability and a quantum computer that would enable coherent interaction and middle web . If our speculation is precise , this should enable richer conscious experiences of the combined system , requiring more descriptive act than the experiences the human news report without the link , " the squad explicate in their paper , adding that it demand coupling a system within the mastermind with qubits in superposition inside aquantum reckoner .
" Before the systems are coupled , their respective states exist in separate country space , know as Hilbert quad , of dimension N and M , severally . After they are made to interact , the undulation purpose describing the combined system |๐๐ถ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ โช reside in an ๐ร๐ -dimensional Hilbert infinite , " the squad writes . " We hypothesise that a principle of superposition forming in this higher dimensional state outer space would be experienced by the depicted object as a richer experience as compared to a superposition nation mould in the lower N - dimensional Hilbert space describing the stranded mastermind of the subject . "
talk toNew Scientist , Neven elaborated on how that would work .
" Let โs say we have ' N ' qubits in our brain and ' meter ' qubits in an extraneous quantum computer , with the letters referring to a certain number of qubits . If a person could mire their brain with this quantum electronic computer , they could make an expanded quantum superposition involving ' N+M ' qubits , " Neven said . " If we now vellicate this expanded superposition to make it collapse , then this should be reported by the person enter in this experiment as a richer experience . That โs because in their normal witting experience , they typically need ' N ' bit to describe the experience , but now they require ' N+M ' spot to describe it . "
" I call this the ' expansion communications protocol ' , as it would permit us to expand consciousness in space , time and complexness . "
According to Neven , reports of richer experience in these circumstances would offer evidence that consciousness is a quantum phenomenon . While a neat idea , there the test would rely on being able to couple activity in somebody ’s brain to a quantum computing machine , which would be an trespassing subroutine and is not going to pass any time presently .
As well as this , there are many other thought on consciousness with hope too , many of which do n’t rely on such invasive procedure . As the team observe , research into torpid gas pedal such as xenon and their effect on consciousness may be more fruitful in the meantime .
The subject field is published inEntropy .
