Consciousness and the Collapse of the Wave Function

Summary

Our minds might directly influence quantum physics, suggests new theoretical work combining consciousness studies with quantum mechanics. When quantum particles exist in multiple states simultaneously (like Schrödinger's famous cat), something must cause them to "collapse" into a single state. This analysis explores whether consciousness itself triggers this collapse, using integrated information theory and quantum physics (quant-ph) models. While simple versions fail experimental tests, more sophisticated models remain viable and could be tested using quantum computers.

Abstract

Does consciousness collapse the quantum wave function? This idea was taken seriously by John von Neumann and Eugene Wigner but is now widely dismissed. We develop the idea by combining a mathematical theory of consciousness (integrated information theory) with an account of quantum collapse dynamics (continuous spontaneous localization). Simple versions of the theory are falsified by the quantum Zeno effect, but more complex versions remain compatible with empirical evidence. In principle, versions of the theory can be tested by experiments with quantum computers. The upshot is not that consciousness-collapse interpretations are clearly correct, but that there is a research program here worth exploring.

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