For decades, scientists have debated whether the human brain requires quantum processes to achieve cognition. A recent study from Shanghai University suggests that certain fatty structures in the brain may produce quantum entangled biphoton pairs, potentially aiding in synchronization across neurons.
Scientists have long argued that the brain is too hot and messy for this type of phenomenon to occur. However, a new study proposes that the cylindrical cavity formed by myelin sheaths surrounding nerve cell axons could facilitate spontaneous photon emission and generate entangled photon pairs.
The study’s authors built mathematical models demonstrating how infrared photons could impact myelin sheaths and impart energy to chemical bonds. This process could spur biphoton generation with many pairs exhibiting entanglement, serving as a type of “quantum communication resource” within the nervous system.
While the idea of quantum entanglement playing a role in consciousness is not mainstream, it’s not new either. British physicist Roger Penrose and American anesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff first proposed this concept in the 1990s. Since then, various pieces of evidence have hinted that some quantum properties may help generate consciousness.
The study’s findings suggest that myelin sheaths could facilitate entangled photon pairs, potentially explaining the rise of cognition and synchronization. However, detecting this phenomenon as it occurs in the brain would be an incredibly difficult task.
As scientists continue to explore the mysteries of the human brain, they may uncover more evidence supporting the role of quantum processes in cognition. The study’s findings offer a glimpse into the brain’s unknown computational frontier, where classical physics meets quantum weirdness.
Source: https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a61854962/quantum-entanglement-consciousness/