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Consciousness and Quantum Theory: Stuart Hameroff, Roger Penrose
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Consciousness and Quantum Theory: Stuart Hameroff, Roger Penrose

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# Consciousness and Quantum Theory: Stuart Hameroff, Roger Penrose



- [Consciousness in the universe: A review of the ‘Orch OR’ theory](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1571064513001188) (Hameroff & Penrose, 2014)

  > The nature of consciousness, the mechanism by which it occurs in the brain, and its ultimate place in the universe are un- known. We proposed in the mid 1990’s that consciousness depends on biologically ‘orchestrated’ coherent quantum processes in collections of microtubules within brain neurons, that these quantum processes correlate with, and regulate, neuronal synaptic and membrane activity, and that the continuous Schrödinger evolution of each such process terminates in accordance with the specific Diósi–Penrose (DP) scheme of ‘objective reduction’ (‘OR’) of the quantum state. This orchestrated OR activity (‘Orch OR’) is taken to result in moments of conscious awareness and/or choice. The DP form of OR is related to the fundamentals of quantum mechanics and space–time geometry, so Orch OR suggests that there is a connection between the brain’s biomolecular processes and the basic structure of the universe. Here we review Orch OR in light of criticisms and developments in quantum biology, neu- roscience, physics and cosmology. We also introduce a novel suggestion of ‘beat frequencies’ of faster microtubule vibrations as a possible source of the observed electro-encephalographic (‘EEG’) correlates of consciousness. We conclude that consciousness plays an intrinsic role in the universe



- [Orchestrated Objective Reduction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchestrated_objective_reduction) (Orch OR) on wikipedia

  > a highly controversial theory postulating that consciousness originates at the quantum level inside neurons (rather than being a product of neural connections). The mechanism is held to be a quantum process called objective reduction that is orchestrated by cellular structures called microtubules. It is proposed that the theory may answer the hard problem of consciousness and provide a mechanism for free will.[1] The hypothesis was first put forward in the early 1990s by Nobel laureate for physics Roger Penrose, and anaesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff. The hypothesis combines approaches from molecular biology, neuroscience, pharmacology, philosophy, quantum information theory, and quantum gravity.



## Contents

- [Summaries](#summaries)

  - [🌌 Consciousness and Quantum Theory](#-consciousness-and-quantum-theory)

  - [🧠 Mind and Cognition](#-mind-and-cognition)

  - [⚛️ Physics and Spacetime](#️-physics-and-spacetime)

  - [💻 Computing and Quantum Processes](#-computing-and-quantum-processes)

- [External Resources](#external-resources)

  - [Primary Orch OR Papers](#primary-orch-or-papers)

  - [Individual Author Contributions](#individual-author-contributions)

  - [Neuroscience Foundations](#neuroscience-foundations)

  - [Recent Developments (2022-2024)](#recent-developments-2022-2024)

    - [Latest Experimental Evidence](#latest-experimental-evidence)

  - [Anesthesia Research](#anesthesia-research)

  - [Philosophical Perspectives](#philosophical-perspectives)

  - [Critical Response](#critical-response)

    - [Mathematical and Logical Critiques](#mathematical-and-logical-critiques)

    - [Physical and Biological Critiques](#physical-and-biological-critiques)

    - [Scientific Reviews and Critiques](#scientific-reviews-and-critiques)

    - [Additional Critical Resources](#additional-critical-resources)

  - [Reference Collections](#reference-collections)

  - [Historical Context](#historical-context)

  - [Related Quantum Consciousness Theories](#related-quantum-consciousness-theories)



## Summaries

### 🌌 Consciousness and Quantum Theory

- [Consciousness-and-the-Universe_Penrose-Hameroff-Stapp-Chopra-Kak.md](https://github.com/cognitivetech/consciousness-science-and-microtubules/blob/main/Consciousness-and-the-Universe_Penrose-Hameroff-Stapp-Chopra-Kak.md)

- [Toward-a-Science-of-Consciousness_I_Complex-Adaptive-Systems.md](https://github.com/cognitivetech/consciousness-science-and-microtubules/blob/main/Toward-a-Science-of-Consciousness_I_Complex-Adaptive-Systems.md)

- [Toward-a-Science-of-Consciousness_II_Complex-Adaptive-Systems.md](https://github.com/cognitivetech/consciousness-science-and-microtubules/blob/main/Toward-a-Science-of-Consciousness_II_Complex-Adaptive-Systems.md)

- [Toward-a-Science-of-Consciousness_III_Complex-Adaptive-Systems.md](https://github.com/cognitivetech/consciousness-science-and-microtubules/blob/main/Toward-a-Science-of-Consciousness_III_Complex-Adaptive-Systems.md)



### 🧠 Mind and Cognition

- [Shadows-of-the-Mind_Penrose.md](https://github.com/cognitivetech/consciousness-science-and-microtubules/blob/main/Shadows-of-the-Mind_Penrose.md)

- [Emporers-New-Mind_Penrose.md](https://github.com/cognitivetech/consciousness-science-and-microtubules/blob/main/Emporers-New-Mind_Penrose.md)



### ⚛️ Physics and Spacetime

- [Nature-of-Space-Time_HawkingPenrose.md](https://github.com/cognitivetech/consciousness-science-and-microtubules/blob/main/Nature-of-Space-Time_HawkingPenrose.md)

- [Cycles-of-Time_Penrose.md](https://github.com/cognitivetech/consciousness-science-and-microtubules/blob/main/Cycles-of-Time_Penrose.md)

- [Road-to-Reality_Penrose.md](https://github.com/cognitivetech/consciousness-science-and-microtubules/blob/main/Road-to-Reality_Penrose.md)



### 💻 Computing and Quantum Processes

- [Ultimate-Computing_Hameroff.md](https://github.com/cognitivetech/consciousness-science-and-microtubules/blob/main/Ultimate-Computing_Hameroff.md)



## External Resources

- [Center for Consciousness Studies](http://consciousness.arizona.edu/)

- [Hameroff's "Quantum Consciousness" site](http://www.quantumconsciousness.org/)



### Primary Orch OR Papers

- Hameroff, Stuart; Penrose, Roger (1996). ["Orchestrated Objective Reduction of Quantum Coherence in Brain Microtubules: The "Orch OR" Model for Consciousness"](https://bigbangpage.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/orchestrated-objective-reduction-in-microtubuls...pdf)

- Hameroff, Stuart; Penrose, Roger (2014). ["Consciousness in the universe"](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.plrev.2013.08.002). _Physics of Life Reviews_. [**Doi**](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.plrev.2013.08.002)

- Hameroff, Stuart; Penrose, Roger (2014). "Reply to seven commentaries on 'Consciousness in the universe: Review of the 'Orch OR' theory'". _Physics of Life Reviews_. [**Doi**](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.plrev.2013.11.013)

- Hameroff, Stuart; Penrose, Roger (2014). "Reply to criticism of the 'Orch OR qubit' – 'Orchestrated objective reduction' is scientifically justified". _Physics of Life Reviews_. [**Doi**](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.plrev.2013.11.014)



### Individual Author Contributions

- Penrose, Roger (2014). ["On the Gravitization of Quantum Mechanics 1: Quantum State Reduction"](https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs10701-013-9770-0). _Foundations of Physics_. [**Doi**](https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs10701-013-9770-0)

- Hameroff, Stuart (2012). ["How quantum brain biology can rescue conscious free will"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3470100). _Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience_. [**Doi**](https://doi.org/10.3389%2Ffnint.2012.00093)

- [Penrose, Roger (1999). "Science and the Mind". Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics Public Lectures.](https://web.archive.org/web/20160514103339/http://online.kitp.ucsb.edu/plecture/penrose/)

- Hameroff, S.R. (1987). [_Ultimate Computing_](https://archive.org/details/ultimatecomputin00hame). Elsevier

- Hameroff, Stuart R.; Watt, Richard C. (October 1982). "Information processing in microtubules". _Journal of Theoretical Biology_. [**Doi**](https://doi.org/10.1016%2F0022-5193%2882%2990137-0)



### Neuroscience Foundations

- Bennett, M.V.L. & Zukin, R.S. (2004). ["Electrical Coupling and Neuronal Synchronization in the Mammalian Brain"](https://doi.org/10.1016%2FS0896-6273%2804%2900043-1). _Neuron_. [**Doi**](https://doi.org/10.1016%2FS0896-6273%2804%2900043-1)

- Yu, W.; Baas, PW (1994). ["Changes in microtubule number and length during axon differentiation"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6577472). _The Journal of Neuroscience_. [**Doi**](https://doi.org/10.1523%2Fjneurosci.14-05-02818.1994)

- Hodgkin, Alan L., Huxley, Andrew F. (1952). ["A quantitative description of membrane current and its application to conduction and excitation in nerve"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1392413). _Journal of Physiology_. [**Doi**](https://doi.org/10.1113%2Fjphysiol.1952.sp004764)

- McCulloch, Warren S., Pitts, Walter (1943). "A logical calculus of the ideas immanent in nervous activity". _Bulletin of Mathematical Biophysics_. [**Doi**](https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fbf02478259)



### Recent Developments (2022-2024)

- Derakhshani, Maaneli; et al. (2022). "At the crossroad of the search for spontaneous radiation and the Orch OR consciousness theory"

- ["Collapsing a leading theory for the quantum origin of consciousness"](https://phys.org/news/2022-06-collapsing-theory-quantum-consciousness.html). _phys.org_. 13 June 2022

- Tangermann, Victor (2022). ["Experiment Suggests That Consciousness May Be Rooted in Quantum Physics"](https://futurism.com/human-consciousness-quantum-physics)

- Lewton, Thomas (2022). ["Quantum experiments add weight to a fringe theory of consciousness"](https://www.newscientist.com/article/2316408-quantum-experiments-add-weight-to-a-fringe-theory-of-consciousness/)



#### Latest Experimental Evidence

- ["Ultraviolet superradiance from mega-networks of tryptophan in biological architectures"](https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1042789). _EurekAlert_. 29 April 2024

- Babcock, N. S.; et al. (2024). ["Ultraviolet Superradiance from Mega-Networks of Tryptophan in Biological Architectures"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11075083). _The Journal of Physical Chemistry B_

- ["Study Supports Quantum Basis of Consciousness in the Brain"](https://neurosciencenews.com/quantum-process-consciousness-27624/). _Neuroscience News_. 6 September 2024

- Hameroff, Stuart; et al. (2024). ["Consciousness came before life"](https://iai.tv/articles/life-and-consciousness-what-are-they-auid-2836)



### Anesthesia Research

- Craddock, Travis J. A.; et al. (2017). ["Anesthetic Alterations of Collective Terahertz Oscillations in Tubulin"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5575257)

- Craddock, T. J.; et al. (2015). ["Anesthetics act in quantum channels in brain microtubules to prevent consciousness"](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25714379/)

- Emerson, Daniel J.; et al. (2013). ["Direct Modulation of Microtubule Stability Contributes to Anthracene General Anesthesia"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3671381)

- Craddock, Travis J. A.; et al. (2012). ["Computational Predictions of Volatile Anesthetic Interactions with the Microtubule Cytoskeleton"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3382613)

- Pan, Jonathan Z.; et al. (2008). ["Inhaled anesthetics elicit region-specific changes in protein expression in mammalian brain"](https://doi.org/10.1002%2Fpmic.200800057). _Proteomics_

- Pan, Jonathan Z.; et al. (2007). "Halothane binding proteome in human brain cortex". _Journal of Proteome Research_

- Allison, A.C; Nunn, J.F (1968). "Effects of General Anæsthetics on Microtubules". _The Lancet_



### Philosophical Perspectives

- Stich, Stephen P.; Warfield, Ted A. (2008). [_The Blackwell Guide to Philosophy of Mind_](https://books.google.com/books?id=NEGK_ZStddkC&q=dualistic+consciousness&pg=PA126)

- Chalmers, David J. (1995). ["Facing Up to the Problem of Consciousness"](http://consc.net/papers/facing.html)

- Chalmers, David J. (1997). _The Conscious Mind: In Search of a Fundamental Theory_

- Churchland, Patricia S. ["Brainshy: Non-Neural Theories of Conscious Experience"](https://patriciachurchland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/1997-Brainshy-NonNeural-Theories-of-Conscious-Experience.pdf)



### Critical Response

#### Mathematical and Logical Critiques

- Putnam, Hilary (1 July 1995). ["Book Review: Shadows of the mind"](https://doi.org/10.1090%2FS0273-0979-1995-00606-3). _Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society_. [**Doi**](https://doi.org/10.1090%2FS0273-0979-1995-00606-3)

- Putnam, Hilary (20 November 1994). ["The Best of All Possible Brains?"](https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/97/04/27/nnp/17540.html). _The New York Times_

- Davis, Martin (September 1993). "How subtle is Gödel's theorem? More on Roger Penrose". _Behavioral and Brain Sciences_. [**Doi**](https://doi.org/10.1017%2FS0140525X00031915)

- Boolos, George; et al. (1990). "An Open Peer Commentary on The Emperor's New Mind". _Behavioral and Brain Sciences_. [**Doi**](https://doi.org/10.1017%2Fs0140525x00080687)

- Lewis, David (July 1969). ["Lucas against Mechanism"](https://doi.org/10.1017%2Fs0031819100024591). _Philosophy_. [**Doi**](https://doi.org/10.1017%2Fs0031819100024591)



#### Physical and Biological Critiques

- Hepp, K. (September 2012). "Coherence and decoherence in the brain". _Journal of Mathematical Physics_. [**Doi**](https://doi.org/10.1063%2F1.4752474)

- Koch, Christof; Hepp, Klaus (2006). ["Quantum mechanics in the brain"](https://doi.org/10.1038%2F440611a). _Nature_. [**Doi**](https://doi.org/10.1038%2F440611a)

- Tegmark, Max (2000). "Importance of quantum decoherence in brain processes". _Physical Review E_. [**ArXiv**](https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/9907009). [**Doi**](https://doi.org/10.1103%2FPhysRevE.61.4194). [**PMID**](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11088215)



#### Scientific Reviews and Critiques

- Reimers, Jeffrey R.; et al. (2014). "The revised Penrose–Hameroff orchestrated objective-reduction proposal for human consciousness is not scientifically justified"

- Georgiev, Danko D. (2017). [_Quantum Information and Consciousness: A Gentle Introduction_](https://books.google.com/books?id=OtRBDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT177)

- Villatoro, Francisco R. (2015). ["On the quantum theory of consciousness"](https://mappingignorance.org/2015/06/17/on-the-quantum-theory-of-consciousness/)

- Baars BJ, Edelman DB (2012). "Consciousness, biology and quantum hypotheses"

- McKemmish, Laura K.; et al. (2009). ["Penrose-Hameroff orchestrated objective-reduction proposal for human consciousness is not biologically feasible"](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:200232/UQ200232.pdf)

- Litt A, et al. (2006). ["Is the brain a quantum computer?"](https://doi.org/10.1207%2Fs15516709cog0000_59)



#### Additional Critical Resources

- Krajewski, Stanisław (2007). ["On Gödel's Theorem and Mechanism: Inconsistency or Unsoundness is Unavoidable in any Attempt to 'Out-Gö del' the Mechanist"](https://content.iospress.com/articles/fundamenta-informaticae/fi81-1-3-11). _Fundamenta Informaticae_

- LaForte, Geoffrey, Patrick J. Hayes, and Kenneth M. Ford 1998. _[Why Gödel's Theorem Cannot Refute Computationalism](https://web.archive.org/web/20060901233518/http://www.cs.uwf.edu/~glaforte/papers/whyGodel.ps)_. Artificial Intelligence, 104:265–286

- Feferman, Solomon (1996). "Penrose's Gödelian argument". _[Psyche](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psyche_(consciousness_journal) "Psyche (consciousness journal)")_. [**CiteSeerX**](https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.130.7027)



### Reference Collections

- ["MindPapers: 6.1b. Godelian arguments"](http://consc.net/mindpapers/6.1b). Consc.net. Retrieved 28 July 2014

- ["References for Criticisms of the Gödelian Argument"](http://users.ox.ac.uk/~jrlucas/Godel/referenc.html). Users.ox.ac.uk. 10 July 1999



### Historical Context

- Penrose, Roger (1989). _The Emperor's New Mind: Concerning Computers, Minds and The Laws of Physics_. Oxford University Press. pp. 108–109

- Penrose, Roger (1989). [_Shadows of the Mind: A Search for the Missing Science of Consciousness_](https://archive.org/details/shadowsofmindsea00penr_0/). Oxford University Press. pp. 416–7, 457

- [Hofstadter 1979](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchestrated_objective_reduction#CITEREFHofstadter1979), pp. 476–477, [Russell & Norvig 2003](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchestrated_objective_reduction#CITEREFRussellNorvig2003), p. 950, [Turing 1950](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchestrated_objective_reduction#CITEREFTuring1950) under "The Argument from Mathematics" where he writes "although it is established that there are limitations to the powers of any particular machine, it has only been stated, without sort of proof, that no such limitations apply to the human intellect."



### Related Quantum Consciousness Theories

- Beck, F; Eccles, J C (1992). ["Quantum aspects of brain activity and the role of consciousness"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC50549)

- Beck, Friedrich (1996). "Can quantum processes control synaptic emission?"

- Beck, Friedrich; Eccles, John C. (1998). "Quantum processes in the brain: A scientific basis of consciousness"