Our brain uses quantum computers

If the mediator is a non-classical system, the entanglement between two known quantum systems can be mediated by unknown systems according to recent theories of quantum gravity. This strategy could be applied to the brain, where there has long been speculation about the role of quantum mechanics in consciousness and cognition.

Proton spins of bulk water can behave like the known quantum systems; However, they most likely interfere with any brain activity. NMR techniques based on multiple quantum coherence (QMC) can serve as an entanglement witness when an unidentified mediator is present. There are questions about the ability of modern NMR signals to contain quantum correlations, particularly in the brain environment.

After adopting a concept developed to prove the existence of quantum gravity to study the human brain and how it works, Trinity College scientists believe our brain may be able to use quantum computation. The discovery could shed light on consciousness, the workings of which remain scientifically difficult to understand and explain.

The correlation between measured brain functions and conscious perception and short-term memory function suggests that quantum processes are also part of cognitive and conscious brain function.

If the team’s findings can be verified, which is likely to require very sophisticated multidisciplinary methods, it will improve our overall understanding of how the brain works and perhaps how it might be preserved or even repaired. They could potentially work to develop even more sophisticated quantum computers by discovering new technologies.

dr Christian Kerskens, senior physicist at Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience (TCIN), is co-author of the research article, which has just been published in the Journal of Physics Communications. He said:

“We have adapted an idea developed for experiments to prove the existence of quantum gravity, taking known quantum systems interacting with an unknown system. If the known systems are entangled, the unknown must also be a quantum system. It avoids the difficulty of finding gauges for something we don’t know about.”

“For our experiments we used proton spins from ‘brain water’ as a known system. “Brain water” naturally builds up as fluid in our brains, and the proton spins can be measured with MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). Then, by using a special MRI design to search for entangled spins, we found MRI signals resembling heartbeat-evoked potentials, a form of EEG signals. EEGs measure electrical brain waves that some people may know from first-hand experience or simply from watching hospital dramas on TV.”

“If entanglement is the only possible explanation here, then that would mean that brain processes must have interacted with the nuclear spins that mediated the entanglement between the nuclear spins. From this we can deduce that these brain functions must have quantum functions.”

“Since these brain functions also correlated with short-term memory performance and conscious perception, it is likely that these quantum processes are an important part of our cognitive and conscious brain functions.”

“Quantum brain processes could explain why we can still outperform supercomputers when faced with unforeseen circumstances, decisions, or learning something new. Our experiments, conducted just 50 meters from the auditorium where Schrödinger presented his famous thoughts on life, may shed light on the mysteries of biology and the scientifically even more elusive consciousness.”

Magazine reference:

1. Christian Matthias Kerskens et al. Experimental evidence for non-classical brain functions. Journal of Physics Communication. DOI: 10.1088/2399-6528/ac94be