The Neuron Is an Arbitrary Construction

In episode 16 of the Quantum Consciousness series, Justin Riddle describes how slow-wave electromagnetic fluctuations in the brain are the closest correlate to human cognition. Does this mean that these neural oscillations at the scale of entire brain regions and networks of brain regions are somehow able to support our consciousness? Historically, these oscillations were viewed as “steam off the train engine” and people thought that only the activation of individual neurons was worth analyzing. By that same logic, is the activity of neurons just the steam off the protein engine? And only proteins are worth studying? Recent evidence suggests that macroscopic electric fields in the brain contain unique information and disruption or enhancement of slow-wave electric fields directly alters cognition. The argument is made that biology enables the strong emergence of macroscopic systems that possess causal influence on the future and downward on more microscopic biological systems. Furthermore, the rhythmic nature of electric recordings lines up with the theory that perception and behavior is inherently rhythmic. Despite evidence that conscious experience correlates strongly with slow-wave electromagnetic oscillations, how exactly does consciousness get implemented? So far in this series we have presented evidence that the mind is likely a quantum computer, but it seems exceptionally challenging to build a quantum computer so slow. Perhaps molecular infrastructure enables superconduction with large circuits…. Or perhaps electromagnetic fields possess an inherent capacity for sustaining proto-consciousness. Stay tuned for the next video with a comprehensive model for scale-free information integration in the brain!