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A unification of recent developments in astronomy and the biophysics of consciousness may lead to a model of quantum self-consciousness. The developments are the detection of Dark Matter from the motion of stars in astronomy and Frohlich’s hypothesis of quantum consciousness in biology. The unification is achieved by the further hypothesis that quantum waves in the physical brain are reflected in a three-dimensional medium of axions, a constituent of Dark Matter that pervades our galaxy. Self-consciousness arises when the axion consciousness can observe the physical consciousness based on a threshold of complexity.

Frohlich originally suggested that physical consciousness occurs when a threshold in metabolic rate in the brain is exceeded, ie., when one wakes up. His mechanism is that in that state the dipoles of the membranes of the brain become a medium possessing quantum coherence. In physics terms it becomes a Bose-Einstein condensate. For example super fluids and superconductors near absolute zero possess similar quantum coherence. Frohlich’s hypothesis is that such a medium may exist in the brain at room temperature.

We suggest that self-consciousness occurs when a threshold (based on Godel’s incompleteness theorem), of complexity for processes in the brain, is exceeded; so that the physical brain and the axion medium can communicate; and the axion medium is capable of independent thought-- that is, computation.

Axions are predicted theoretically but not yet detected. They possess just the right properties for a supernatural medium. They are predicted by the GUT theories to be motionless, chargeless, extremely light and extremely numerous. It is possible that they dominate that mass of Dark Matter even though they individually have a mass one billionth the electron mass. More important, being motionless they are automatically at absolute zero and therefore are a universal, or at least a galactic(since they extend across galaxies but perhaps not from galaxy to galaxy), quantum coherent medium.

Physics(GUT theory) predicts a coupling between axions and ordinary physical properties via gravity and also with photons in a magnetic field. String theory, specifically M theory, suggests a direct coupling between ordinary particles and Dark Matter particles via a compactified dimension, one of 11 that splits M theory into two 10-D superstring theories. So there is reason to believe that all physical processes are somehow reflected in the background axion medium.

Being at absolute zero the physical information the reflected in the axion background should decay very slowly if at all. More important is the question as to whether the information in that medium is intelligent; is it capable of independent reconfiguration, or is it just a passive reflection of physical consciousness?

This question is encountered in the physical realm. The lowest forms of life with mobility seem to respond to outside stimuli passively without any independent will. As more and more complex forms of life emerged, independent action also emerged. Finally, man/woman is able to think and plan. Penrose suggests that consciousness and thinking comes from a combination of sufficient complexity ala Godel and the collapse of quantum wave functions. We suggest the they may be the requirements for communication between the physical and axion realm, as well or perhaps instead. That is what Penrose refers to is actually self-consciousness. What he has not considered, in print at least, is the existence of a secondary process that observes the primary process.

Since the mechanism our physical thinking is poorly understood, if at all, it is unlikely that we are as of yet able to determine the requirements for independent thought in an axion medium. However, the fact that we seem to be capable of invisible thought suggests that intelligence may be intrinsic to coherent quantum phenomena. (Invisible thought is responsible for the solutions of problems that appear in our conscious mind in a flash.) Even so, how can quantum wave functions collapse in a frictionless environment? The brain has physical structures like nerves, etc., to influence the quantum waves via electromagnetics. The axion medium has no such known structures.

If we make the leap of faith that a axion medium, perhaps with other ingredients, is capable of computation, then we have a medium for a number of supernatural phenomena including remote sensing, otherwise known as out-of-body experience and astral projection, afterlife of a soul, revelation, or communication between embodied and disembodied souls, and even x-ray vision.

The discussion asks more questions than it answers. But perhaps it points to an interesting direction in considerations of a synthesis of theory and theology.

• Re: Quantum Self-consciousness - David/">David - April 22, 1999 - 20:43 UTC
  • Re: Quantum Self-consciousness - yanniru/">yanniru - April 23, 1999 - 12:18 UTC
    • Re: Quantum Self-consciousness - DAVID/">DAVID - April 24, 1999 - 17:31 UTC