Quantum Computing Day 3: Does an Explanation of Higher Brain Function require...

Google Tech Talks
January, 10 2008

ABSTRACT

Syllabus and Recommended Literature

This tech talk series explores the enormous opportunities afforded by the emerging field of quantum computing. The exploitation of quantum phenomena not only offers tremendous speed-ups for important algorithms but may also prove key to achieving genuine synthetic intelligence. We argue that understanding higher brain function requires references to quantum mechanics as well. These talks look at the topic of quantum computing from mathematical, engineering and neurobiological perspectives, and we attempt to present the material so that the base concepts can be understood by listeners with no background in quantum physics.

In this third talk we review the history of the theory that quantum effects are essential to understanding brain function. We look at the theory of Penrose and Hameroff and its refutation by the decoherence calculations of Tegmark. Our experiments with pattern recognition using a quantum computer teach new lessons on which type of problems the brain may solve by quantum processes and how the data flow might look. Specifically, we conjecture that computations that are not time-critical and which require the solution of a global optimization problem are good candidates for brain processes facilitated by quantum phenomena. We then study situations in which coherence could be maintained to be of behavioral relevance as well as recent findings that show the relevance of coherence in basic biological processes such as photo synthesis and enzyme function. We advance a speculative theory that mental states induced by tryptamines might come about by enhancing the propensity of the brain to relegate certain computations to quantum annealing. We argue that by virtue of being a physical substrate the brain exists in a global superposition with the environment and participates in information exchange via fundamental physical interactions. This regime becomes relevant in situations in which neural dynamics is less driven by sensory input or behavioral affordances. Studying multiple corpora of reports describing experiences mediated by the psychoactive brew ayahuasca, we argue that our model outperforms a more mainstream neurobiological explanation based on neural assemblies.

Speaker: Hartmut Neven

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[wgasa]

Anyone who is not shocked by quantum theory has not understood it

-Niels Bohr

[anotherelvis]

I don't believe the last 10 minutes where he suggests that coherent quantum states are necesary to describe the creativity that you get from drinking certain drugs.

If he wants to prove that brain function relies on coherent quantum states, then I think that he should start out looking for molecules in the brain could possibly function like a simple quantum computer. Otherwise he ends up with hot air.

[gaaakz]

Because neurotransmitters like serotonin and tryptamines are different molecular weights, they affect the the perception of matter and time. Which is proof of the Higgs field. All Theoretical Physicists should be taking a close look at psilocybin

[CORNP00]

@anotherelvis farts are made of hot air

[MrMayreck]

@wgasa u will understand it at death

[Faustoteinmor]

This say only two words: God exist.

[DasKrabbe]

@cespedeslv

Not at chess.

[jcrossn]

I like his ideas ... is not quantum mysticism, but maybe quantum investigation or research... our curiosity shouldnt be stopped by taboo concepts, as long as we have well defined goals and as long as logic and science is our main basis... maybe quantum computation is for us in the 21st century as electricity was for people in the Tesla time... or maybe not :)

[cespedeslv]

To date (2010) Humans are still better and superior to any Classical or Quantum computer.

[metabog]

You've obviously completely misunderstood quantum physics, unfortunately, so you should stop preaching quantum mysticism to us.

[traibr]

That explanation being that electrons have a property that makes them the 'holders' of (((((consciousness))))). Hence information can be stored in electrons. They are clearly related in the big picture!

[traibr]

Now this might seem like we are adding a whole new law to physics, but this is simply not true. This theory fits right in with modern physics and helps offer an explanation to the unexplainable behaviours of electrons (QUATUM MECHANICS/QUATUM COMPUTERS, THE BRAIN) in various environments.