On Consciousness

[l0st]

New research on anesthesia unlocks important clues about the nature of consciousness (September 3, 2024)

Here is the paper (eNeuro 15 August 2024).

They're saying this supports the theories of Penrose, et al, that consciousness manifests due to quantum fluctuations within microtubules.  As such, it aligns with what I think -- that consciousness is non-local in origin, and the brain acts as a receiver and causal amplifier, rather than being the fundamental source.

As I recently heard someone describe it, "folded brains dramatically increase the influence a given region in space-time can have, simply due to the increased number of neurons. So our brains double as an antenna for some unseen influence that manifests through quantum uncertainty."

Edit: The paper bigly references Hameroff's 2022 paper Consciousness, Cognition and the Neuronal Cytoskeleton – A New Paradigm Needed in Neuroscience, which is also interesting reading:

The human brain as an antenna for quantum-level signals? That's.... incredible and also extremely frightening at the same time.

If you believe in the theories of people like Elon Musk then we're all in a simulation - it would make sense that every "character" has an antenna by which to receive commands.

When I was growing up I had a somewhat-close friend who was deeply into quantum physics. In fact, I believe he has gone on to do studies in quantum mechanics. He tried to get me interested in it, but it just didn't strike me at the time - I was much more into computers at the time. I wish I could speak with him now.