1st Edition

Quantum Information and Consciousness A Gentle Introduction

By Danko D. Georgiev Copyright 2018
    362 Pages
    by CRC Press

    362 Pages
    by CRC Press

    "I loved the book! This book is not just interesting, it is exciting. I have probably read every significant book in the field, and this is the strongest and most convincing one yet. It is also one of the most comprehensive in its explanations. I shall most certainly recommend the book to colleagues."
    –Richard G. Petty, MD

    "a very good introduction to the basic theory of quantum systems…. Dr. Georgiev’s book aptly prepares the reader to confront whatever might be in store later."
    –from the Foreword by Prof. James F. Glazebrook, Eastern Illinois University

    This book addresses the fascinating cross-disciplinary field of quantum information theory applied to the study of brain function. It offers a self-study guide to probe the problems of consciousness, including a concise but rigorous introduction to classical and quantum information theory, theoretical neuroscience, and philosophy of the mind. It aims to address long-standing problems related to consciousness within the framework of modern theoretical physics in a comprehensible manner that elucidates the nature of the mind-body relationship. The reader also gains an overview of methods for constructing and testing quantum informational theories of consciousness.

    Foreword

    Preface

    About the Author

    Introduction

    The main problems of consciousness

    The physical boundary problem

    The binding problem

    The causal potency problem

    The free will problem

    The inner privacy problem

    The mind-brain relationship

    The hard problem

    Some background for beginners

    The scientific conception of the world

    Subjective and objective knowledge

    Science and scientific theories

    Logical consistency

    Communicability

    Explanatory power

    Empirical corroboration Axioms of logic

    Rules of inference

    Axioms of natural science

    The world of classical physics

    Matter

    Determinism

    Observability

    Real numbers

    Functions

    Derivatives

    Vectors

    Integrals

    Sets

    Classical probability theory

    Particle and field fluxes

    Axioms of classical mechanics

    Solving Hamilton’s equations

    Classical electrodynamics

    Vector operators

    Maxwell’s equations

    Light

    Special relativity

    Classical information

    The world of quantum physics Complex numbers

    Wave functions

    Vector spaces

    Inner product spaces

    Metric

    Hilbert space

    Bra-ket notation

    Matrix multiplication

    Operators

    Orthonormal basis

    Quantum wave function representations

    Two-level quantum systems

    Three-level quantum systems

    Tensor products

    Axioms of quantum mechanics

    Quantum superpositions

    Quantum entanglement

    Density matrices

    Solving the Schrödinger equation

    Quantum information

    A quantum information theory of consciousness

    Consciousness in classical physics

    Physical boundary of consciousness in classical physics

    Binding of consciousness in classical physics Neural convergence

    Neural assembly

    Neural synchrony

    Integrated information

    EEG waves

    Causal potency of consciousness in classical physics

    Classical functionalism implies epiphenomenalism

    Classical reductionism implies trivial immortality

    Free will in classical physics

    Debunking compatibilism

    Determinism implies moral nonresponsibility

    Instability and chaos cannot rescue free will

    Belief in free will and human conduct

    Inner privacy of consciousness in classical physics

    Mind-brain relationship in classical physics

    Idealism

    Eliminativism

    Functionalism

    Reductionism

    Dualism

    Panpsychism

    The hard problem of consciousness in classical physics

    Consciousness in quantum physics Axioms of quantum information theory of consciousness

    Physical boundary of consciousness in quantum physics

    Binding of consciousness in quantum physics

    Causal potency of consciousness in quantum physics

    On the nature of quantum states

    Quantum indeterminism avoids epiphenomenalism

    Free will in quantum physics

    Actualization of possibilities and choice making

    Free will versus superdeterminism

    Where does the free will come from?

    Schrödinger’s cat and objective reduction

    Debunking free will skepticism

    Quantum existentialism

    Inner privacy of consciousness in quantum physics

    Observability and unobservability

    Quantum purity

    Quantum entropy

    Quantum coherence

    Communicability and incommunicability

    Quantum support of classical information

    Quantum versus classical computation

    Mind-brain relationship in quantum physics

    Quantum interactionism

    Quantum panpsychism

    Comparison with other quantum theories of mind

    Intertwining consciousness and quantum mechanics

    The hard problem of consciousness in quantum physics Towards a quantum neuroscience Protein engines of life

    Neuronal ion channels and electric excitability

    Dynamic timescale of individual conscious steps

    Conscious perception of time and time agnosia

    Reaction times and inner monologue

    Quantum tunneling in synaptic communication

    SNARE proteins and synaptic vesicle exocytosis

    Protein α-helix structure and conformational distortions

    Quantum tunneling through rectangular potential barrier

    SNARE proteins and volatile anesthesia

    Comparison with interactionism proposed by John Eccles

    Memory storage and retrieval Research programs and conscious experiences

    Verificationism and falsificationism

    Theory-laden observations and shared knowledge

    Bayesian inference and assessment of theories

    Comparison of scientific research programs

    Conscious experiences and protocol sentences

    Testing the quantum information theory of consciousness

    Tests for logical consistency

    Tests for empirical adequacy

    Tests for empirical corroboration

    Tests for explanatory power

    Bibliography

    Glossary

    Index

    Biography

    Danko D. Georgiev earned his M.D. from Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria, graduating summa cum laude in 2004, and his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Kanazawa University, Japan, in 2008 for his research in the area of neuronal differentiation. He has worked as an anesthesiologist at the Naval Hospital, Varna, and was also a researcher in the Department of Psychiatry and Neurobiology at Kanazawa University, where he studied the molecular alterations in the cerebral cortex of subjects with schizophrenia. He held a two-year JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship awarded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, and was a short-term visiting scholar at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, as well as a visiting lecturer at the Biomedical Forum, Annual Program of Continuing Medical Education held at Medical University of Varna. He was then a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh, where he performed cutting-edge research on the pathogenesis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Georgiev is currently a principal investigator at the Institute for Advanced Study, Varna, Bulgaria. He has published over 35 research articles, some in world-renowned journals such as the American Journal of Psychiatry, Schizophrenia Bulletin, and Journal of Neuroscience.

    "I loved the book! This book is not just interesting, it is exciting. I have probably read every significant book in the field, and this is the strongest and most convincing one yet. It is also one of the most comprehensive in its explanations. I shall most certainly recommend the book to colleagues."
    –Richard G. Petty, MD

    "This is an excellent book, which can be used in academia and industry, and is also suitable as a required or complementary textbook for students. The author (who has both an MD and PhD) covers various aspects of molecular reengineering, information sciences, neuroscience, etc. While some aspects covered can be debated, the author shows the clear prospect for multidisciplinary studies of this kind. These topics, studies, and findings will be of interest to experts in biological and physical sciences, who are interested in quantum and semi-quantum mechanics with applications in biomedicine and biotechnologies. Highly recommended."
    –Sergey E. Lyshevski, Professor of Electrical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology


    "The book is an essential compilation of knowledge about the theory of quantum systems and about consciousness. It is recommended to any one interested in the field of the science of mind. It brings a fresh insight in the never ending philosophical debate of what consciousness and mind is. It manages this without hidden metaphysical indigents that are found in so many related books."
    –Andreas Wichert, Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Lisbon, Portugal