Knowledge Tree
quantum decoherence
Also known as: quantum decoherence, decoherence
Facts (24)
Sources
Quantum Approaches to Consciousness plato.stanford.edu Nov 30, 2004 5 facts
measurementPosner molecules (calcium phosphate) exhibit extreme decoherence times in the range of hours or even days, allowing them to maintain coherent states.
procedureReplacing calcium with different lithium isotopes with different nuclear spins in Posner molecules alters decoherence times and affects postsynaptic activity, which serves as an empirical test for Fisher's hypothesis.
claimScott Hagan, Stuart Hameroff, and Jack Tuszynski analyzed the biological feasibility of quantum computation in brain microtubules, specifically addressing decoherence, in a 2002 paper in Physical Review E.
claimHagan et al. (2002) argued that a corrected version of Max Tegmark's model provides decoherence times for tubulin superpositions up to 10 to 100 microseconds, and potentially up to 10 to 100 milliseconds under specific assumptions of the Penrose-Hameroff scenario.
claimFisher (2015, 2017) proposed that Posner molecules, specifically calcium phosphate (Ca9(PO4)6), act as qubits in the brain where nuclear spins of phosphate ions protect coherent states against fast decoherence.
Theories and Methods of Consciousness biomedres.us Jan 29, 2024 5 facts
claimQuantum mechanical hypotheses of consciousness face the challenge of quantum decoherence, which suggests that quantum processes would dissipate into the environment over time because the brain is not a closed system cold enough to maintain coherence.
claimTheories attempting to explain consciousness via quantum processes face the 'hard problem' and 'binding problem' of consciousness, specifically encountering issues related to quantum decoherence.
claimThe scientific community faces unresolved issues regarding quantum decoherence and the hard and binding problems of consciousness.
claimOrchestrated objective reduction theory (ORCH-OR theory) fails to resolve the binding and decombining problems of consciousness because the quantum coherence required for the process fails to hold due to quantum decoherence.
claimMocombe's consciousness field theory (as cited in Mocombe et al. 2019, 2019a, 2021) argues that consciousness is a fifth force of nature that is both local and nonlocal to avoid the problem of quantum decoherence.
Quantum Approaches to Consciousness plato.stanford.edu Nov 30, 2004 4 facts
measurementA revised version of Max Tegmark's model of quantum decoherence in the brain provides decoherence times of 10 to 100 microseconds, which proponents of the Penrose-Hameroff model argue can be extended to the neurophysiologically relevant range of 10 to 100 milliseconds under specific assumptions.
referenceHagan, S., Hameroff, S.R., and Tuszynski, J.A. published the paper 'Quantum computation in brain microtubules: decoherence and biological feasibility' in Physical Review E in 2002.
claimTheoretical studies of interacting spins demonstrate that entangled states can be maintained in noisy open quantum systems at high temperatures and far from thermal equilibrium by using a 'recoherence' mechanism to counterbalance decoherence, suggesting entanglement may persist in environments like the brain.
referenceAlfinito E., Viglione R.G., and Vitiello G. published 'The decoherence criterion' in Modern Physics Letters B in 2001.
Consciousness-Induced Quantum State Reduction - Nova Spivack novaspivack.com Jun 2, 2025 3 facts
claimThe theory of consciousness-induced quantum state reduction predicts that conscious observation, characterized by the term Omega_obs, can induce state reduction or decoherence in a single quantum system.
referenceWojciech H. Zurek's 2003 paper 'Decoherence, einselection, and the quantum origins of the classical', published in Reviews of Modern Physics, 75(3), 715–775, discusses the role of decoherence and einselection in the emergence of classical reality.
claimThe ability to modulate decoherence rates via observer consciousness complexity could serve as a tool for managing quantum information processing within the framework of consciousness-induced quantum state reduction.
Panpsychism (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy/Fall 2015 Edition) plato.stanford.edu May 23, 2001 2 facts
claimStuart Hameroff and Roger Penrose conjectured that certain systems capable of resisting decoherence are the physical foundation of more complex states of consciousness.
perspectiveStuart Hameroff is willing to entertain a panpsychist interpretation of the work regarding systems that resist decoherence as the physical foundation of consciousness.
Quantum Mechanics And Consciousness: The Physics Of Mind quantumzeitgeist.com Apr 17, 2025 2 facts
claimQuantum coherence is highly sensitive to environmental interference, a process known as decoherence, which poses a significant challenge to the plausibility of quantum states surviving in the brain's warm and wet environment.
claimThe Orchestrated Objective Reduction (Orch OR) hypothesis faces scientific skepticism and challenges regarding the maintenance of quantum coherence in the brain's warm, wet environment, a process known as decoherence.
(PDF) Quantum Mechanics and Consciousness - Academia.edu academia.edu 1 fact
referenceMax Tegmark argued for the importance of quantum decoherence in brain processes in his 2000 paper published in Physical Review E.
Quantum Physics and Consciousness Insights | PDF - Scribd scribd.com 1 fact
referenceThe document 'Quantum Physics and Consciousness Insights' introduces quantum concepts including entanglement, nonlocality, and coherence/decoherence as they relate to proposed mechanisms of consciousness in the brain and mind.
Quantum Theory of Consciousness - Scirp.org. scirp.org 1 fact
measurementMax Tegmark estimates that decoherence time scales for ions involved in the propagation of action potentials are 10 to 20 orders of magnitude smaller than the relevant time scales of neural dynamics.