Rideronthewheel
Rising Star
So I recently learned about a theory that was proposed originally in the 90's and is still being developed, but it explains consciousness and the psychedelic experience more so than any other theory I know of. It's called Orch OR (Orchestrated Objective Reduction) and is the synthesis of theories by Stuart Hameroff, an anesthesiologist and incredibly smart man, and Roger Penrose, a mathematician and theoretical physicist. Their theory posits that consciousness is the result of quantum computations performed by the proteins of the microtubules within the brain's neurons. It's a very complex theory, but I'll try and summarize it for those who don't know and are interested (everyone here should be!):
The quantum world is that of the atom and below. It's where classical physics breaks down and quantum mechanics begin. Weird laws operate here. For example, superposition is the state in which an electron or any particle is simultaneously in every potential state. This principal is integral to the quantum computer because a bit can be both 1 and 0 as opposed to that of a classical computer which can only be 1 or 0. When an observer (a scientist) measures a particle in superposition, it chooses only 1 state out of the mix of potential ones. It does so neither deterministically nor randomly (similar to free will). This 'choice' is called by a few different names: objective reduction, collapse of the wave function/wave vector. When the wave function of a particle in superposition collapses, it chooses one state. One can equate this to a single bit of information being determined. Roger Penrose puts forth the theory that a system in superposition will collapse (objectively reduce) on its own if isolated for a long enough time. A single electron in superposition would collapse after 10 million years. The time it takes for the system to collapse is determined by the equation E = ħ/t. I'll attempt to explain this equation. Penrose suggests that superposition is an inherently unstable thing and that when a particle is in two places at the same time, it's a fracturing of space-time on the most fundamental level. The degree to which a superposed system fractures reality is 'E'. 'ħ' is what's called the reduced Planck Constant. It's a fundamental principle of quantum mechanics that I don't know much about, and 't' is the time until the system's wave function collapses. So essentially, the more a system fractures reality (the more intense the superposition), the sooner the state of possibilities reduces to one reality. Stuart Hammeroff believes this moment of reduction is the same as a moment of consciousness. It's a bit of information coming from the quantum superstructure of reality. It's important to note that this quantum universe contains the information of and for everything that is, was, will be or could be. In the strict sense, it's a supreme intelligence because of how much information it holds. So, considering this wave function collapse is a moment of consciousness, they looked to see how the brain could harness this.
The microtubules of a cell are what give it structure, like tent-poles. They have other functions though. Hammeroff has studied them for much of his career and was inspired to investigate them as the potential source of consciousness because anesthesia, which makes you unconscious but doesn't impair vital brain activity, targets the microtubules and the surrounding areas. Microtubules are composed of many many proteins and they exist within every neuron. Through a lot of complicated biological processes, Hameroff and Penrose believe these proteins themselves enter superposition. Because of the tremendous amount of proteins in the brain, they are a system with a very high 'E' value. When superposed in unison, they collapse the wave-function very rapidly. They calculate that in a normal state of mind, this happens 40 times per second. Thus, you experience 40 moments of consciousness per second. They also show how different brain states, such as that of adrenaline-sped activity, increases the moments of consciousness per second. That's why people perceive time as going slowly. Same applies to when one is excited, happy, or having fun. They also show that altered states from psychedelics increase the number of conscious moments per second by a lot. This makes sense! The fast paced influx of information on, say, a DMT trip, is potentially information coming from this quantum world. It's just that we're receiving a lot more of than usual.
I was thinking the other day about this theory and wrote down some ideas. I don't know if they've been thought of or are accounted for in the theory somewhere, but I'll share them: Every moment of every second, your brain has a unique electrical make-up. If you could take a still-frame photo of your brain's activity at 1/40th of a second, that would be the electricity that corresponds to whatever you were perceiving in that 1/40th of a second. It could be that every 1/40th (depending on the brain state) of a second, the state of your brain is put into superposition and collapses. This would result in a quantum 'calculation' based on the input (sensory data and previous consciousness fed back in) that is entirely relevant to you. It'd therefore not be random information coming back from the quantum world but information that is directly related to the input. This explains why our consciousness is relevant to what we're experiencing. Maybe a psychedelic experience such as DMT is a feedback loop of consciousness. You don't receive any sensory input from outside (or very little), so it's just pure consciousness out, pure consciousness back in. That's why you get the sensation that you leave your body in pure 'spirit' form and roam the universe. I'll try and find the source where I saw the brain-state/wave-funtion collapse rate correlation.
Anyway, I'd like to hear what people think. Have you heard this stuff before? Does it makes sense? Etc...
Here are some links too:
Recent status of the theory. It's two parts and the second can be found on youtube as well:
** (Recommended, though it's dense and fast-paced. He's responding to criticisms of the theory)
Their website: http://www.quantumconsciousness.org/penrose-hameroff/orchor.html
Wikipedia: Orchestrated objective reduction - Wikipedia
Stuart Hameroff in 2010 at TEDx in Brussels talking a bit about his theory and a lot about it's importance:
**
The quantum world is that of the atom and below. It's where classical physics breaks down and quantum mechanics begin. Weird laws operate here. For example, superposition is the state in which an electron or any particle is simultaneously in every potential state. This principal is integral to the quantum computer because a bit can be both 1 and 0 as opposed to that of a classical computer which can only be 1 or 0. When an observer (a scientist) measures a particle in superposition, it chooses only 1 state out of the mix of potential ones. It does so neither deterministically nor randomly (similar to free will). This 'choice' is called by a few different names: objective reduction, collapse of the wave function/wave vector. When the wave function of a particle in superposition collapses, it chooses one state. One can equate this to a single bit of information being determined. Roger Penrose puts forth the theory that a system in superposition will collapse (objectively reduce) on its own if isolated for a long enough time. A single electron in superposition would collapse after 10 million years. The time it takes for the system to collapse is determined by the equation E = ħ/t. I'll attempt to explain this equation. Penrose suggests that superposition is an inherently unstable thing and that when a particle is in two places at the same time, it's a fracturing of space-time on the most fundamental level. The degree to which a superposed system fractures reality is 'E'. 'ħ' is what's called the reduced Planck Constant. It's a fundamental principle of quantum mechanics that I don't know much about, and 't' is the time until the system's wave function collapses. So essentially, the more a system fractures reality (the more intense the superposition), the sooner the state of possibilities reduces to one reality. Stuart Hammeroff believes this moment of reduction is the same as a moment of consciousness. It's a bit of information coming from the quantum superstructure of reality. It's important to note that this quantum universe contains the information of and for everything that is, was, will be or could be. In the strict sense, it's a supreme intelligence because of how much information it holds. So, considering this wave function collapse is a moment of consciousness, they looked to see how the brain could harness this.
The microtubules of a cell are what give it structure, like tent-poles. They have other functions though. Hammeroff has studied them for much of his career and was inspired to investigate them as the potential source of consciousness because anesthesia, which makes you unconscious but doesn't impair vital brain activity, targets the microtubules and the surrounding areas. Microtubules are composed of many many proteins and they exist within every neuron. Through a lot of complicated biological processes, Hameroff and Penrose believe these proteins themselves enter superposition. Because of the tremendous amount of proteins in the brain, they are a system with a very high 'E' value. When superposed in unison, they collapse the wave-function very rapidly. They calculate that in a normal state of mind, this happens 40 times per second. Thus, you experience 40 moments of consciousness per second. They also show how different brain states, such as that of adrenaline-sped activity, increases the moments of consciousness per second. That's why people perceive time as going slowly. Same applies to when one is excited, happy, or having fun. They also show that altered states from psychedelics increase the number of conscious moments per second by a lot. This makes sense! The fast paced influx of information on, say, a DMT trip, is potentially information coming from this quantum world. It's just that we're receiving a lot more of than usual.
I was thinking the other day about this theory and wrote down some ideas. I don't know if they've been thought of or are accounted for in the theory somewhere, but I'll share them: Every moment of every second, your brain has a unique electrical make-up. If you could take a still-frame photo of your brain's activity at 1/40th of a second, that would be the electricity that corresponds to whatever you were perceiving in that 1/40th of a second. It could be that every 1/40th (depending on the brain state) of a second, the state of your brain is put into superposition and collapses. This would result in a quantum 'calculation' based on the input (sensory data and previous consciousness fed back in) that is entirely relevant to you. It'd therefore not be random information coming back from the quantum world but information that is directly related to the input. This explains why our consciousness is relevant to what we're experiencing. Maybe a psychedelic experience such as DMT is a feedback loop of consciousness. You don't receive any sensory input from outside (or very little), so it's just pure consciousness out, pure consciousness back in. That's why you get the sensation that you leave your body in pure 'spirit' form and roam the universe. I'll try and find the source where I saw the brain-state/wave-funtion collapse rate correlation.
Anyway, I'd like to hear what people think. Have you heard this stuff before? Does it makes sense? Etc...
Here are some links too:
Recent status of the theory. It's two parts and the second can be found on youtube as well:
** (Recommended, though it's dense and fast-paced. He's responding to criticisms of the theory)
Their website: http://www.quantumconsciousness.org/penrose-hameroff/orchor.html
Wikipedia: Orchestrated objective reduction - Wikipedia
Stuart Hameroff in 2010 at TEDx in Brussels talking a bit about his theory and a lot about it's importance:
**