A new study conducted by Wellesley College professor Mike Wiest and a team of undergraduate students has shed light on the debate surrounding the physical basis of consciousness in the brain. The research focused on the effects of anesthesia on the brain, specifically looking at how anesthesia interacts with microtubules, the protein structures inside neurons. The team found that when rats were given a drug that binds to microtubules, it took them longer to fall unconscious under anesthesia. This suggests that anesthesia acts on microtubules to induce unconsciousness, supporting the idea that consciousness may have a quantum basis.
The implications of this research are significant, as it challenges traditional models of consciousness based on classical physics. Wiest, an associate professor of neuroscience at Wellesley, believes that when it is accepted that the mind is a quantum phenomenon, it will represent a major shift in our understanding of human consciousness. This new perspective could improve our understanding of how anesthesia works and could lead to insights into a range of related topics, such as coma patients, the effects of mood-stabilizing drugs, and the impact of diseases like Alzheimer’s or schizophrenia on perception and memory.
In addition to advancing our understanding of consciousness, a quantum approach to the mind could also provide a more holistic view of our connection to the universe. Wiest envisions a future where quantum consciousness theory plays a central role in shaping our understanding of the human experience. He plans to continue exploring this field of research and hopes to communicate his findings to a broader audience through a book on the topic. The research, published in eNeuro, has revived interest in microtubules in the context of anesthesia and provided evidence in support of a quantum theory of consciousness.
The team of Wellesley College students who contributed to the research include Sana Khan, Yixiang Huang, Derin Timucin, Shantelle Bailey, Sophia Lee, Jessica Lopes, Emeline Gaunce, Jasmine Mosberger, Michelle Zhan, Bothina Abdelrahman, and Xiran Zeng. Their work was instrumental in conducting experiments, collecting data, and analyzing results that helped support the quantum model of consciousness. By focusing on the role of microtubules in anesthesia, the study has opened up new avenues for exploring the relationship between brain function and consciousness from a quantum perspective.
