1st Edition
Quantum Information and Consciousness A Gentle Introduction
"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