Quantum Consciousness
Is it operating in our brains?
UPDATED: August 6, 2026
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This updated article, originally published over a year and a half ago for a much smaller audience, had the highest open rate of all my emailed newsletters. It was subsequently reposted on another Substack with my permission, while being paywalled on my website. Now, the article is even bigger and better, and available to all. If you want it, here it is; come and get it, ‘cause it may not last.
This article diverges from the usual medical subject matter by being quite speculative. It suggests some mind-bending possibilities for what it might mean to be a conscious human being, wide awake and simultaneously aware of all our internal and external experiences.
What is Consciousness?
There is no unifying definition of consciousness, and one is urgently needed. The philosopher, Thomas Nagel, considered consciousness to be the total subjective experience of what it is like to be you. The neuropsychological perspective is that consciousness is the inseparable relationship between an unbounded field of awareness and the transitory appearances of objects within it.
Any apparent distinction between objects that we perceive and the sense that we are a separate, perceiving self, is an illusory projection of the ego or self-concept. Our fictional, self-constructed identity has no existence beyond the confines of our imagination. In other words, our sense of self is an illusion.
There is a substantial body of evidence that the brain constructs many aspects of our conscious experience, including our sense of identity. Self-representation depends upon distributed neural processes that can be altered by brain injuries, diseases, and experimental manipulations. What is clear is that the common intuition of being a single, unchanging, fully autonomous inner self is not an accurate representation of how the mind creates its perceived experiences.
We can all agree that conscious experiences do exist. However, the fact that we perceive objects, and are aware of perceiving them, does not prove the existence of a separate, enduring self, nor does it disprove it. Awareness is apparently capable of being aware of itself, without requiring an additional entity beyond that awareness.
Neuroscience can investigate the mechanisms of perception and self-representation, but it is unable to determine which of the competing metaphysical viewpoints is correct. Consequently, the ontological status of self-awareness remains debatable. Whether or not there is an enduring soul is a question for which spiritual philosophy has no definitive answer, but that doesn’t stop theologians from arguing about it incessantly.
Mindfulness is a cognitive skill that is usually developed by deliberately paying attention to what’s happening in the present moment, or through certain kinds of meditative practices aimed at dispelling the illusion of self. The goal of such practices has been referred to as “enlightenment,” a more awakened state of consciousness that exists beyond the duality and linearity of conventional thought processes. For a more playful take on mindfulfulness, contemplation, and meditation, see:
Scientists have been studying the neural correlates of consciousness (NCC) by examining the relationships between specific mental states and their corresponding neurophysiological states. There appears to be a minimum amount of neural activity within the brain that is necessary for a specific conscious experience to occur. NCC research has focused on identifying precise brain regions and processes directly involved in conscious perception.
The “hard problem” of human consciousness involves understanding exactly how people are able to have their subjective experiences in the first place. Discovery of the mechanisms within the brain that enable consciousness to emerge has eluded scientists for centuries. For philosophers, the nature of consciousness also remains a mystery. One of the difficulties in solving the problem is that there is no agreed upon protocol for measuring the content and intensity of conscious experiences in an observer-independent manner.
Just to be clear, quantum consciousness is a legitimate field of study that’s very different from quantum-woo mysticism and the pseudoscience exemplified by Deepak Chopra’s “quantum soul” and miraculous “quantum healing.” Quantum consciousness relies upon certain aspects of quantum mechanics that can theoretically take place in the brain and account for some critical areas of consciousness that can’t be completely explained by the classical physical and chemical processes of neural physiology.
Quantum Theory
Quantum theory describes and explains the properties and behavior of physical matter at and below the scale of atoms. It is based on the premise that matter simultaneously exists in two forms; as a particle and as a wave. The particle nature of matter is described by deterministic classical physics such as Newton’s Laws of Motion. The wave-like behavior of elementary particles, known as the wave–particle duality, is exhibited by photons. These massless particles only move at the speed of light, and are a kind of boson.
Atomic and subatomic particles follow rules that are very different from those enumerated by classical physics. Quantum theory has proven to be the most important development in physics over the last 100 years. It permeates every modern technology in use today, from electronic transistors and computer semiconductors, atomic clocks, and GPS navigation systems, to MRI scans, lasers, LEDs, electron microscopes, and the LIGO detector of gravitational waves.
Quantum physicists explain the fundamental particles and forces of the universe in terms of the Standard Model, a widely accepted framework based on quantum field theory. It predicts almost all known particles and forces (aside from gravity) with great accuracy. In 2012, a subatomic particle with the properties predicted four decades earlier by Nobel Laureate, Peter Higgs, was confirmed by experiments at the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland. The new particle was named the Higgs boson in his honor.
Matter at the atomic and subatomic level is studied by scientists working in the field of quantum physics, which involves the interpretations and applications of quantum phenomena. Quantum mechanics refers to specific mathematical tools that are used to study, describe, and predict quantum phenomena involving the wave properties of elementary particles.
Notable among these phenomena is “quantum entanglement,” in which different particles can instantaneously interact across vast distances. Another is “quantum superposition,” in which particles can exist in two or more states or positions at the same time. When observed, the state or position of these particles “collapses” and the system becomes confined to one definitive state or location. The phenomenon of “wave-particle duality” is another aspect of quantum mechanics.
According to the mathematical concept of superposition, a particle can be in multiple states simultaneously, until it is observed or measured. An example is the classic thought-experiment known as Schrödinger’s cat.
Before opening the box containing the cat, the cat’s wavefunction is a combination of both alive and dead. The “Copenhagen interpretation” suggests that acts of observation or measurement collapse the superposition into one definite outcome or the other. However, there is nothing in the equations that indicate how that happens.
Physicist Hugh Everett proposed an alternative interpretation, suggesting that there is no collapse. Instead, every possible outcome of a quantum measurement actually does happen, but in branching, non-communicating versions of reality. This is known as the “many-worlds interpretation.”
When we open the box to observe the cat, the universe splits into two branches; one where we observe it to be alive, and one where we observe it to be dead. Both observations are equally valid, but we, as the observers, end up in only one branch of the two.
Extending that idea across every quantum event that’s happening, we arrive at the concept of a multiverse, an ever-branching tree of universes where everything is happening, everywhere, all at once, metaphorically speaking. There are other competing interpretations, and physicists can’t agree on which one might be correct. That’s partly because all the interpretations currently make the same experimental predictions with equal accuracy.
This video clearly (and humorously) explains quantum superposition:
A very real quantum computer uses "qubits" that can exist in superposition as both 0 and 1 at the same time. This enables the computer to perform complex calculations involving multiple possibilities simultaneously, producing an extremely high processing speed compared to traditional computers that rely on bits that are either 0 or 1.
If these quantum concepts are difficult to grasp, it’s because mathematics is the native language of physics and you’re likely not fluent. My uncle, a professor of astrophysics and theoretical mathematics at Yale University, used to remind me when I complained about my high school analytic geometry homework, “mathematics is the language of the universe, and the only key to its understanding.”
To truly grasp quantum mechanics, you would have to understand the underlying mathematical formulas and calculations. Attempts to translate from the mathematics into plain English (or any other spoken language) can at best produce metaphorical expressions that hint at the underlying reality. At worst, they create stupefying confusion.
In simple, metaphorical terms, quantum entanglement is a phenomenon in which two particles become linked in such a way that they share the same fate, regardless of the distance separating them. If a property of one particle is measured, such as its spin, there will instantly appear a corresponding property in the linked particle. Einstein referred to this observation as “spooky action at a distance” and doubted its validity. It is unfortunate that he didn’t live long enough to see the experimental evidence, known as the “Cosmic Bell Test,” supporting the validity of quantum entanglement.
In theory, “space” as we perceive it could be a projection of quantum entanglement, emerging from the interconnectedness and non-local correlations of quantum particles. This concept implies that space-time is not a pre-existing entity, but instead arises from the underlying quantum interactions and their entanglement properties. A mathematical framework already exists, wherein space is represented as a network of interconnected nodes, with entanglement holding the network together.
A Musical Inspiration
Quantum Mechanics boggles the mind, and so does Being in Love. I wrote this “quarky” song that ties the two together:
Back to the Brain
At its deepest level, the human brain is made up of atomic and subatomic particles, but as a “warm, wet, and noisy” environment, it has been viewed as being unsuitable for maintaining quantum states. Interactions of particles with a biological medium can cause decoherence and prevent entanglement. However, some researchers have proposed mechanisms, and presented evidence, suggesting that quantum entanglement could indeed occur in the brain.
This has become a fascinating and hotly debated topic. While there is no consensus, there are some intriguing research findings and theoretical arguments that suggest it may be possible. In their quest to understand consciousness as a physical phenomenon, some scientists hypothesize that the quantum realm may hold the key, but a paucity of experimental evidence leaves many others skeptical.
It has been suggested that quantum entanglement could play a role in the synchronization of neurons, which is crucial for various brain functions such as cognition and awareness. Entanglement might also allow for faster and more efficient communication between different brain regions.
Experimental Evidence
The myelin sheaths that surround and insulate nerve fibers in the brain could potentially shield quantum states and allow entanglements to occur. Experimental studies have shown that these neural structures can actually produce pairs of entangled photons.
Another hypothesis proposes that the microtubules, which are structural components within neurons, could be sites for quantum processes, including entanglement. Theoretically, quantum computations in the microtubules could contribute to consciousness. Some experiments using modified magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques have produced evidence of correlated proton spins in the brain, which could be interpreted as a confirmation of entanglement.
Xenon anesthesia is a key area of research in the quest to understand the potential role of quantum mechanics in consciousness and brain function. Xenon is a "noble" gas, meaning it is chemically inert and doesn't readily react with any other substances. This makes it a good candidate for studying its subtle interactions in the brain, without it causing chemical changes.
Xenon has been used as an anesthetic for decades, but its mechanism of action has long been a mystery. Unlike many other anesthetics that bind with specific receptors in the brain, xenon's effects seem to be more general, suggesting it has a very different type of action.
The xenon atom has nine stable isotopes; atoms with the same number of protons but with different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei. Two of these isotopes have a nuclear spin (a quantum property), and seven do not. A key experiment explored how four of xenon's different isotopes, with variations in nuclear spin, affected anesthesia in mice. Isotopes with a nuclear spin had reduced anesthetic potency compared to those without a spin. This suggests that a quantum property such as nuclear spin can influence observable biological effects such as the state of consciousness.
Some researchers propose that xenon might interact in the brain to form “radical pairs” with atoms having unpaired electrons. If these unpaired electrons become entangled, their quantum states are linked. It's hypothesized that this entanglement could be crucial for consciousness, and that that xenon's anesthetic effect might be due to its disruption of these entangled states in the microtubules. This hypothesis suggests that Xenon anesthesia interferes with these quantum processes, leading to a loss of consciousness.
The xenon experiments provide indirect evidence that quantum properties such as nuclear spin, and the potential entanglement of radical pairs, can have an influence upon consciousness. This strengthens the argument that quantum phenomena might play a role in brain function.
However, the xenon experiments only show that quantum properties might be able to affect consciousness within the context of anesthesia. So far, the evidence produced by research on xenon anesthesia challenges conventional understandings of consciousness and leads to the possibility that quantum mechanics may play an important role in how our brains work.
Recent Research
The field of quantum biology has significantly advanced over the past couple of years with experimental evidence for quantum theories of consciousness, although none of the arguments have been settled. Some scientists argue that the microtubule effects of xenon can be explained by classical mechanisms, such as its interaction with the electron clouds in protein molecules.
In 2024, researchers pretreated rats with epothilone B, a microtubule-stabilizing drug, before anesthetizing them with isoflurane. The treated rats required significantly more anesthetic before losing their righting reflex.
A 2025 study in mice replicated this finding using different microtubule-modifying compounds. It is notable because standard anesthesia pharmacology, which centers on ion channels, GABA receptors, and membrane lipids, doesn’t predict this outcome at all.
There’s a clinical observation that’s consistent with this: Cancer patients who previously received taxane chemotherapy, which also affects microtubules, show measurably altered sensitivity to inhaled anesthetics during surgery. Taken together, these findings suggest that inhalation anesthetics do something specific to microtubules, and that disrupting microtubule dynamics changes the threshold for loss of consciousness.
The Allen Institute is exploring quantum mechanics and the role that it might play in human consciousness. A recent article explores the conjecture that quantum processes create our conscious experiences. A 2025 review of the experimental evidence for a quantum microtubule substrate of consciousness suggests that inhalation anesthetics specifically dampen quantum optical effects in microtubules, while leaving non-orchestrated proteins unaffected. Whether the research holds up to replication, and whether it addresses consciousness per se, rather than anesthetic mechanisms, remains to be seen.
Objections to body-temperature coherence claims have been overcome by direct evidence of quantum super-radiance from microtubules at room temperature, that was enhanced when the microscopic structures were incorporated into larger structures. Research shows microtubule resonance states spanning across multiple neurons and influencing membrane voltage. The working hypothesis is that structured environments such as ordered water shells, given the geometry of the microtubule lattice, could act as a shield for coherence.
The most striking, and most contested claim for entanglement measurements in living human brains, framed as evidence of correlations between brain and heart signals in conscious subjects, with the correlation disappearing or changing with loss of consciousness, as well as with working memory load. The entanglement interpretation has been contested on technical MRI imaging grounds, to which the authors responded.
Meanwhile, there's a heated debate going on about whether consciousness arises from a collapse of quantum superposition, or from its formation, in which the complexity of consciousness depends upon the number of potential states that are in superposition. Critics argue that superpositions relevant to neural processing would be unable to last as long as the milliseconds that would be required.
There’s a broader philosophical problem that still won’t go away, even if the quantum physics checks out: Demonstrating quantum effects occurring in neural microtubules, even if they do correlate with anesthesia, still don’t explain how those effects constitute subjective experiences. The hard problem of consciousness persists, even after moving it to a subatomic scale. We still don’t understand how people are able to have conscious subjective experiences in the first place.
An Intuitive Approach to Quantum Understanding
If this article has boggled your mind and left you feeling confused, then welcome to our club. That’s a perfect starting point. One way we might possibly integrate our glimpses of non-ordinary realities with our ordinary subjective reality is by conceptualizing a dual-mode brain. One mode is rational, analytical, linear, logical, and good for doing science and math. The other mode is intuitive, emotional, non-linear, mystical, and good for doing music and art. We are best served by a complementary union of the two.
Under the right circumstances, such as during certain flow states, or while in deep meditation, we may be able to simultaneously harness both modes, as with the superposition of quantum states. However, once we try to examine a superposed mind, then like Schrödinger’s cat when the box is opened, we will find a mind that is either crazy or sane, but not both. So, just let our state of mind be unknown, and simply go with the flow.
You can allow these concepts, no matter how baffling they may seem to your ordinary way of thinking, to stimulate your deeper, pre-verbal intuitions about the basis of your own conscious awareness. Perhaps this exercise will point the way:
Settle into a relaxed physical state and calm your mind with several slow, deep breaths. Now, mentally ask yourself:
“Where am I, when I am the observer of that which I observe, the experiencer of all that I experience, the knower of all that I know?
Where is the subject that relates to all objects?
Can I locate in space and time who it is that has sensations, perceptions, memories, fantasies, and all these thoughts and feelings about things?
What is the source of this awareness?”
“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in our philosophy.”
~ From William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.”
Quantumly yours,
Dr. Mick
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