Cooling down and waking up: feedback cooling switches an unconscious neural computer into a conscious quantum computer

A theory proposes that feedback cooling in the brain switches on consciousness by reducing thermal noise enough for macroscale quantum phenomena—Bose-Einstein condensation and long-range coherence—to operate at body temperature. It suggests that neuronal arrays called cortical minicolumns act like quantum accelerators; when feedback cooling from thalamocortical loops activates them, a Bose-Einstein condensate forms, enabling quantum computation and consciousness. When cooling is idle, as in sleep, the brain operates unconsciously. The model explains how quantum effects can occur in a warm, noisy brain, why consciousness evolved, and clarifies states like sleepwalking. It predicts that cold states in the brain are detectable by magnetic resonance thermometry.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This paper sets out a theory of how feedback cooling in the brain switches on consciousness. It explains how cooling reduces thermal noise to the point where macroscale quantum phenomena - crucially Bose-Einstein condensation and long-range coherence - can operate at body temperature. It takes the core idea from Stapp that mind and brain interact via some sort of oscillator and then focuses on a likely candidate: neuronal arrays identified by Stapp as cortical minicolumns. Feedback cooling allows amplifiers to act as refrigerators, and when applied to minicolumns it is suggested that the units perform like quantum accelerators, solid-state devices devised to supercharge standard computers. When the accelerator is idle, as in sleep, we have a neural computer operating unconsciously, but when feedback cooling is activated by thalamocortical loops, it produces a Bose-Einstein condensate, quantum computation, and consciousness. The model explains how macroscale quantum phenomena can operate in a warm and noisy brain, how and why consciousness evolved, and gives insight into puzzling unconscious states like sleepwalking. The model is testable, predicting that cold states in the brain are detectable by magnetic resonance thermometry.