A groundbreaking study involving anesthetized rats has bolstered the theory that tiny brain structures called microtubules play a central role in consciousness. Researchers believe these microscopic hollow tubes perform quantum-level operations, shedding new light on the elusive phenomenon of human consciousness.
The research, conducted at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, used isoflurane, an anesthetic that induces unconsciousness. The team treated one group of rats with microtubule-stabilizing drugs while leaving another group untreated. Their findings revealed that rats with stabilized microtubules retained consciousness longer, as evidenced by their ability to maintain their “righting reflex,” or normal posture. The results, published in the journal eNeuro in August 2024, mark a significant step toward confirming the role of quantum processes in the brain.
The origins of this quantum theory of consciousness date back to the 1990s when Nobel Prize-winning physicist Roger Penrose and anesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff proposed the “Orch OR” theory. Their research suggested that microtubules within neurons enable quantum computations, which give rise to consciousness. In their 1996 paper, they posited that consciousness operates like a quantum wave passing through these structures. This phenomenon, termed “objective reduction” by Penrose, describes how quantum computations collapse into measurable states, potentially generating moments of conscious awareness.
Penrose explained, “Each time a quantum-wave function collapses in this way in the brain, it gives rise to a moment of conscious experience.”
The implications of this theory are transformative. If consciousness is indeed rooted in quantum mechanics, it could mean that our awareness is not confined to the brain. Instead, it may connect to quantum particles across the universe, suggesting a form of universal entanglement. Such a possibility challenges traditional views of consciousness, opening the door to questions about its existence beyond individual brains.
Critics, however, have long questioned the feasibility of quantum effects in warm environments like the human brain, which operates at temperatures far higher than the near-absolute zero conditions required for quantum computers. Yet, accumulating evidence suggests that quantum processes may underpin life’s functions in plants and animals.
One notable example is photosynthesis. Plants, which thrive in warm environments, use quantum mechanics to convert light into energy efficiently. During this process, light particles, or photons, are transformed into excitons, which must navigate internal plant structures to reach the chloroplasts for photosynthesis. Researchers propose that plants leverage the quantum property of superposition—where particles exist in multiple states simultaneously—to find the most efficient paths for excitons.
Similarly, the human brain, with billions of neurons firing simultaneously, may utilize quantum entanglement, a phenomenon where particles remain connected over vast distances. Studies have demonstrated that altering one particle’s properties affects another, even when they are separated. An August 2024 study in Physics Review E suggested that myelin, a fatty substance insulating brain cell axons, provides an ideal environment for quantum entanglement, potentially enabling quantum operations that facilitate thought processes.
Supporting the idea of quantum consciousness, earlier studies demonstrated the resilience of quantum states in microtubules. Physicist and oncology professor Jack Tuszyński’s research involved ultraviolet photons creating quantum reactions within microtubules that lasted up to five nanoseconds—thousands of times longer than expected. Similarly, a University of Central Florida study found that microtubules could re-emit visible light for hundreds of milliseconds to seconds, enough time for brain functions to occur.
These observations reveal that neurons can operate at speeds sufficient for quantum-level processes. As a result, they provide critical evidence linking brain functions to quantum mechanics.
According to Wellesley College neuroscientist Mike Wiest, the implications of these findings extend beyond scientific theory. Wiest noted, “The mind as a quantum phenomenon would shape our thinking about a wide variety of related questions, such as whether coma patients or nonhuman animals are conscious.” He added that this research heralds a “new era in our understanding of what we are.”
Though still controversial, the Orch OR theory gains credibility as scientists uncover evidence of quantum phenomena in unexpected places. While quantum computers require freezing temperatures to function, biological systems like plants and potentially human brains may have evolved to perform similar operations in warmer environments. If proven, the quantum basis of consciousness could revolutionize neuroscience, medicine, and even our understanding of existence.
With each study, researchers inch closer to unraveling one of humanity’s greatest mysteries—what it means to be conscious. As Wiest emphasized, this research is not just about science but about redefining our place in the universe.