Quantum Aspects of Brain Activity and the Role of Consciousness

The relationship of brain activity to conscious intentions is considered on the basis of the functional microstructure of the cerebral cortex. Each incoming nerve impulse causes the emission of transmitter molecules by the process of exocytosis. Since exocytosis is a quantal phenomenon of the presyn...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 1992-12, Vol.89 (23), p.11357-11361
Main Authors: Beck, Friedrich, Eccles, John C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Action potentials
Animals
Axons - physiology
Axons - ultrastructure
Behavioral psychophysiology
Biological and medical sciences
Brain
Brain - physiology
Cerebral cortex
Cerebral Cortex - physiology
Consciousness
Consciousness - physiology
Dendrites
Exocytosis
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hippocampus - physiology
Humans
Models, Theoretical
Neocortex
Nerve Endings - anatomy & histology
Nerve Endings - physiology
Neurons
Physics
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Pyramidal cells
Quantum mechanics
Quantum theory
Quasiparticles
Synapses
Synapses - physiology
Synaptic Transmission
Theories
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Summary:The relationship of brain activity to conscious intentions is considered on the basis of the functional microstructure of the cerebral cortex. Each incoming nerve impulse causes the emission of transmitter molecules by the process of exocytosis. Since exocytosis is a quantal phenomenon of the presynaptic vesicular grid with a probability much less than 1, we present a quantum mechanical model for it based on a tunneling process of the trigger mechanism. Consciousness manifests itself in mental intentions. The consequent voluntary actions become effective by momentary increases of the probability of vesicular emission in the thousands of synapses on each pyramidal cell by quantal selection.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.89.23.11357