Introduction

In episode 17 of the Quantum Consciousness series, Justin Riddle explores the theory that your mind is composed of conscious beings in a nested hierarchy. Is your mind a single narrative flow or is it a conversation between competing viewpoints? Do you create your thoughts or do they spring into your mind fully formed? How much control do you have over your body and perception? In the Nested Observer Windows (NOW) Model, information integration units are created at multiple spatial temporal scales (brain region level, neuron level, protein level, etc) via SYNCHRONY. Synchrony sets your perception of time. Information is shared between observer windows at the same level via COHERENCE. Coherence is a dynamic conversation between semi-autonomous observer windows. Information is shared up and down the hierarchy via CROSS-FREQUENCY COUPLING. Cross-frequency coupling explains our rich experience and how simple decisions lead to complex behavior. Each of these three principles is explored with evidence from cognitive neuroscience. Next, the fractal nature of the NOW model is explored and the assertion is made that there is not an arbitrary, nor infinite, number of observer windows. Instead, observer windows are formed at distinct spatiotemporal levels. But how high and how low does the nested hierarchy of beings go? Finally, observer windows could be quantum computers where the strict requirements needed to create a quantum computer are the same requirements needed to create an observer window. There is plenty of ponder about the nature of your mind!