The finer scale of consciousness: quantum theory.

Consciousness remains an unresolved multidisciplinary problem, with existing theories such as Neural Correlates of Consciousness, Global Workspace Theory, and Integrated Information Theory failing to explain how and where consciousness emerges. Quantum mechanics, through concepts like the observer effect, offers a potential bridge, and quantum consciousness theories may fill this gap. This review introduces several quantum-derived consciousness hypotheses, focusing on the orchestrated objective reduction (Orch-OR) framework, its principal points, and its practicality.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Consciousness is a multidisciplinary problem that has puzzled all human beings since the origin of human life. Being defined in various pointcuts by philosophers, biologists, physicists, and neuroscientists, the definitive explanation of consciousness is still suspending. The nature of consciousness has taken great evolution by centering on the behavioral and neuronal correlates of perception and cognition, for example, the theory of Neural Correlates of Consciousness, the Global Workspace Theory, the Integrated Information Theory. While tremendous progress has been achieved, they are not enough if we are to understand even basic facts-how and where does the consciousness emerge. The Quantum mechanics, a thriving branch of physics, has an inseparable relationship with consciousness (e.g., observer effect) since Planck created this subject and its derived quantum consciousness theory can perfectly fill this gap. In this review, we briefly introduce some consciousness hypotheses derived from quantum mechanics and focus on the framework of orchestrated objective reduction (Orch-OR), including its principal points and practicality.