Brain entangled quantum states in radical pairs: a possible link to consciousness.

Consciousness may involve quantum effects in the brain, specifically through NMDA receptor-based radical pairs that embed conscious experiences. A testable hypothesis proposes that a conscious experience is registered by the brain via its embedding in these radical pairs, which can be measured with intracranial EEG and electron paramagnetic resonance. Another hypothesis suggests that entangled spin states within these radical pairs encode sensory and cognitive information into measurable quantum parameters that correspond to neuronal spike timing and frequency. The work extends quantum information formalisms to connect electronic wavefunctions with brain activity, but the precise mechanisms remain elusive.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Current approaches to the study of consciousness have significantly advanced our understanding of this widespread phenomenon in neurocognitive science. Research involving EEG oscillatory dynamics and electromagnetic field activity within brain tissue has provided increasingly detailed insights into arousal states. The neuro-molecular bases of conscious experience have been further clarified, including investigations exploring potential quantum mechanical contributions. However, the precise location, origin, and mechanisms of consciousness within the brain, as well as its connection to fundamental biophysical principles, remain elusive. In this work, we investigate the possible involvement of quantum effects in consciousness by extending rigorous scientific equations and quantum information formalisms-specifically those describing electronic quantum wavefunctions and their parameters-to connect abstract quantum information and photons, atomic, molecular, and neuronal circuit activity, with brain spiking patterns and frequency coding. Testable hypothesis 1: A conscious experience-such as a strong human emotional experience globally connected to sensory perception and the corresponding physical and temporal environment-is registered by the brain through its embedding in N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptor (NMDAR)-based radical pairs. Local intracranial EEG (iEEG) - Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) measurements help in supporting the occurrence of such embedding. Hypothesis 1 assessment - Empirical observations that would falsify it: Measurable or inferred parameter values that support the embedding of conscious experience are listed in Tables 1 and 2 and should comply with the ranges and conditions specified therein. Testable hypotheses 2: The NMDAR micropopulation of entangled spin states within relevant radical pairs encodes and transfers sensory and cognitive information of conscious experiences into measurable, stable nanoscale parameters of the quantum iEEG wavefunction. These parameters are transmitted in biconditional manner to the corresponding neuronal spike frequency and timing codes of associated neural circuits. Hypothesis 2 assessment - Empirical observations that would falsify it: iEEG, EEG, EPR, and related radical-pair parameter measurements should comply biconditionally with the relevant neuronal, molecular, and nanoscale measurements and conditions in Tables 1 and 2.