Quantum physics and the biological brain

• Published in: Reverse Engineering the Mind Vol. 94; pp. 221 - 229
• Main Author: Neukart, Florian
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH 2016; Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden
• Series: AutoUni – Schriftenreihe
• Subjects: Artificial intelligence; Artificial Neural Network; Conscious Experience; Neurosciences; Objective Reduction; Physiological & neuro-psychology, biopsychology; Quantum Coherence; Tubulin Dimer
• ISBN: 9783658161750; 3658161752
• DOI: 10.1007/978-3-658-16176-7_8

Why may one suggest that quantum physical properties do have an influence on how information in the human brain is actually processed? From the first chapter it should be clear that the soma of a biological neuron features numerous branched dendrites, and at least one axon extending to other neurons, each of them featuring branches as well. We recall that neurons have a negative resting potential, at about –70 mV. If a specific neuron, which we call post-synaptic neuron by now, receives signals from other neurons, which we call presynaptic neurons here, then its potential may be given a rise. Each of the neurons features a threshold at around –55 mV, which may be exceeded if the neuron’s potential has been given rise by several pre-synaptic signals. However, this does not necessarily happen, as the synapse transferring the signal may not only be excitatory, thus send a positive signal consequently leading to a rise of the post-synaptic neuron’s potential, but also inhibitory, meaning that it decreases the post-synaptic neuron’s potential and consequently also decreases this specific neuron’s probability for firing.