The quantum track of consciousness is emerging once again. What if our consciousness was not just a simple matter of brain chemistry?
A team of researchers from Wellesley College has discovered that anesthesia, beyond its classic action, could affect microtubules, protein structures present in neurons. These microtubules, essential for cell stability, may also be involved in the processes of consciousness. But that's not all.
The study shows that when rats are given a stabilizing drug for these microtubules, their entry into anesthesia becomes significantly slower. On average, it takes 69 seconds longer for these rodents to lose consciousness under anesthetic gas. This discovery fuels a surprising theory: that of quantum consciousness.
According to this hypothesis, consciousness could arise from the quantum vibrations of the microtubules, challenging the classical models of neuroscience. These results, published in
eNeuro, reignite the debate on the very nature of consciousness.
Some researchers suggest that this quantum track could explain why certain substances, like lithium, alter mood. Others see it as holding potential answers to unresolved questions about Alzheimer's disease or even comas.
Regarding anesthesia, we know that it causes a temporary loss of consciousness by blocking certain brain functions, but the exact mechanisms of this action remain poorly understood. This discovery could help shed more light on this phenomenon. Furthermore, for the authors, these advances are more than just an insight into anesthesia: they could profoundly transform our understanding of the brain-mind relationship.
Professor Mike Wiest, leading this research, believes that if this theory is confirmed, it will usher in a new era in neuroscience, one in which our mind would be seen as a quantum phenomenon.
What is quantum consciousness?
The quantum consciousness theory proposes that the human mind is not merely the result of chemical and electrical processes in the brain. Instead, consciousness could emerge from quantum phenomena, similar to those observed in subatomic particles. These processes would occur within microscopic structures, like microtubules.
Microtubules are tube-shaped structures found in all cells, including neurons. They play an important role in intracellular transport and cell stability. According to the quantum consciousness theory, they are also capable of vibrating at a quantum level, a phenomenon that could generate consciousness.
If consciousness is indeed linked to quantum phenomena within microtubules, this could radically change our understanding of neurological diseases, anesthesia, or even animal consciousness. This theory would pave the way for new research to explore the nature of the mind.
Author of the article: Cédric DEPOND