Thought and Experience: Where Does it Come From?

Thinking About Consciousness in the Meat

Only a Blogpost not a Paper

8 min read

The Quantum Connection

I was getting pulled into the fascinating intersection of quantum mechanics and consciousness again, (it happens from time to time) and I realised, I can't articulate this stuff verbally to anyone. That's why I started typing it. It was Roger Penrose and Stuart Hameroff's proposal in their Orchestrated Objective Reduction (Orch-OR) theory that hounded me.

They say consciousness emerges from quantum processes in microtubules—the structural frames inside our brain cells. It's quite heavy. Anyhow, those guys say consciousness occurs when probability waves (superposition: in every state it can be in at the same time) collapse after reaching the threshold inside our microtubules. This is what sparks moments of consciousness.

Fair enough. Think of living things as quantum collapse interfaces, microtubules like a radio receiver—breaking down bigger waves so we can appreciate the music. We can call this collapsing process communicative or computational. Why? Because it involves the attraction and repulsion between microtubules and quantum fields, the universe's simplest language. I should add, Penrose insists nonlinear gravity plays a part; experiments involving superradiance have shown Penrose's quantum activity persisting in settings simulating biology. 

The Enduring Quantum Within

I've enjoyed hours of Professor Jim Al-Khalili talking about quantum physics and the universe. In 2014, he did another of his BBC documentaries that featured quantum tunnelling. He featured the work of renowned Chemist Hammes-Schiffer that proves protons quantum tunnel through barriers, like ghosts, rather than follow the classical model of physics. It shows us that quantum effects are happening inside living things and integral to charge-based biological processes: electrons are behind photosynthesis and energy metabolism, while proton's are a major factor in genetic mutation and aging. 

Taking in the Facts

Microtubules are 25 nm in diameter (compared to a hair's 17000-181000 nm). They aren't the most stable structure in our cells, but they exist in every type of cell structure, which should make the quantum process less specific to neurons only. It's mind bending how these unimaginably tiny organelles communicate chemically or with charge with one another; positive or negative influencing microtubular dynamics, including their collapse or depolymerization for other use. Not only do microtubular charges interact with positively charged molecules, for example, I suspect they play a transactional role in this very quantum wavelength collapse. 

In 2007, Quantum Biologist Graham Fleming demonstrated with experimentation that energy in photosynthesis simultaneously explores multiple pathways in superposition before selecting the most efficient route. This challenged assumptions that biological environments instantly destroy quantum effects.

A 'Filter Model' of Consciousness

With millions of quantum events ever-present, it must be said; we are about 95% automated. We can reel off lists of precise bio-functions we do not control, like: homeostasis, miosis, mitosis, heart rate, vaso-dilation/constriction, neural maintenence, pathogen response, and then some. Let's not go down any theological rabbit holes and claim intelligent design, these subjects go on forever. We can, however, acknowledge the intricate work of chemically communicating organelles operating across layers of our bodily systems. 

The Neural Democracy

Our world view is served up for us from the bottom-up. We are a small 5% conscious experience that thinks it is the 95%! Higher order representation of phenomenal experience is an often discussed HOROR theory in contemporary philosophy of mind—it's a Higher Order Thought hypothesis. An epiphenomenal model developed primarily by philosopher David Rosenthal, but other philosophers contribute. Our mental states offer content, leading to those 'what-it-is-likeness' sort of sensations, or phenomenal conscious experiences before they become conceptualised into a 'thing' like, I suppose, mansplaining, or survivor guilt, and maybe NPC'ing! Seriously, when more of our unconscious/darkness comes into the light, we recognise and process these things. Victorian men had no idea they were mansplaining until it was a thing. 

We Always Make it About Us

By looking at how other creatures take-in the world; be it chickens or hawks, sharks, whatever, we can appreciate something quite enriching. Sciencey tv shows have been broadcasting the respective differences in animal perspectives for years. Their sense hardware and the amount of dedicated braincells differ across the animal kingdom. It screams Wittgenstein, because some creatures have colour, sound and smell that we don't even have! It begs the question, if we knew everything about life on earth, which creature will experience reality accurately? There are models of philosophy that give allowances for the world to be flexible enough for all creature-views to be valid, is that sound or is it only logical for there to be one true reality? Essentially, we can only be human and study our own nature, but peering over the neighbour's fence satisfies curiosity. 

Consciousness needs a Brain? 

Can consciousness exist without a brain to house it? If we consider trees, we see they communicate through mycorrhizal networks; they can share resources, warn other trees of threats, make decisions about growth patterns, and respond to their environment in sophisticated ways that benefit their collective. They exhibit:

- Environmental responsiveness: growing toward light, avoiding obstacles

- Self-preservation: sealing wounds, conserving energy during stress  

- Communication: chemical signaling, nutrient sharing, coordinated behavior

By definition this is consciousness, but simple unlike our own. 

My Conclusion

Trees have no brains, brambles have no nervous systems—yet, by definition they all clearly show a lower level consciousness as they also strive for light as we do for a wage. However, what is an interesting coincidence is how all animals, trees and plants have microtubules made of the same alpha and beta tubulin! It seems basic consciousness stems from the same fundamental bedrock force, integrating with systems that are alive with specific bio-organelles.

I've enjoyed digesting philosophy and spirituality. All sorts from pan/cosmopsychism, non-dualist perspectives such as panentheism, gnosticism, Plotinus, Arthur Schoppenhauer and integrated information theory, even though IIT doesn't really fit in, it's ideas of interconnection feel similar. Penrose and Hameroff brought another gem to the table, emboldening arguments that suggest there is more than meets the eye. There is an unspoken nondualist perennial idea running across models of physics, philosophy, spirituality and eastern religions. 

Physicist-philosopher Nir Lahav proposes consciousness isn't merely a brain byproduct, but fundamentally woven into reality's fabric through basic physical fields. This is an interesting view, especially if we consider that two billion years ago, alphaproteobacterium developed microtubules. If quantum interaction has shaped our evolution it has had plenty of practice.