The nature of consciousness

Abstract

In this paper the existence and nature of consciousness as a distinct phenomenon is considered in the framework of current scientific philosophy. It is contended that consciousness properly exists as a distinct entity; however, it apparently is an immeasurable quantity. As a consequence, we postulate that consciousness is a real, nonphysical entity, as these terms apply in modern physics. A consideration of the possible types of equations relating the variables of the physical world, P i , to the variables of the consciousness, C i , suggest that there should exist certain quantities common to both the physical equations and the equations of the conscious reality. It is therefore postulated that conscious reality is coupled to physical reality through a single fundamental physical variable. Since consciousness is apparently associated in some way with the electrochemical processes occuring in the brain and since the pertinent physical equations are very satisfactorily understood today, it should be possible to discover the nature of the interaction between the C i and P i variables. The connection should be such as to unify into a single conscious experience the data processing events taking place through-out the brain, yet excluding the many data reduction and chemical processes that do not form a part of our consciousness. A study of this problem indicates that the interaction is quantum mechanical. Thus there must exist a quantum mechanical process operating within the brain that is ultimately involved with the data processing functions of the brain. On the basis of this evidence, a theory of the operation of synapses of the brain is proposed that involves quantum mechanical tunneling at the synaptic cleft. A detailed mathematical consideration of this theory leads to five independent predictions concerning the structure of the synapses and functioning of the brain which are substantiated by observations. It is found that for consciousness to occur the minimum synaptic transmission frequency v́ min for the entire brain must satisfy the relation v′ min = N 2 3 t , where N is the total number of synapses in the brain and t is the synaptic transmission delay time. This equation represents a physical condition necessary for consciousness to exist in a brain.