X-Message-Number: 12895
Date: Fri, 03 Dec 1999 16:19:21 +0100
From: Henri Kluytmans <>
Subject: how the mind/brain works

 wrote:

>A combination of microtubules and quantum computing is the highest 
>density storage, and most likely candidate for our brain.  

Some people seem to suggest that quantum computation occurring in 
the microtubules inside neurons are the fundamental way the brain 
works. However this is only wild speculation.

Trying to make even a very simple artificial quantum computer, the most 
difficult problems are, keeping the system in a quantum coherent 
state long enough to do a calculation. Even the slightest perturbations 
caused by electromagnetic energy or thermal energy will disturb the 
coherence. Therefore these systems have to be cooled to temperatures 
just above zero degrees Kelvin.

However not only do these supposed quantum computing systems in 
the neurons stay coherent long enough, despite the influences of their 
natural surroundings. Also putting a working brain into some of the 
strongest alternating magnetic fields possible, does not disturb its
functioning. 
(i.e. people being NMRI scanned in hospitals do not seem to have 
problems with their mental functioning)

Of course this is no proof that quantum computation in microtubules 
occurs. But it makes it a very unlikely explanation.

----

Consensus among neuroscientists is that the properties and complexity 
of the network of neurons and their interactions are sufficient to explain 
how the brain works.

Even simple artificial neural networks can already display complicated
behavior, 
therefore it is quite logical to assume that the human mind only emerges from 
the complex behavior of a very large neural network. 

>Degeneration of our brain cells decreases the "definition" of 
>our memory just like removing a piece of a hologram reduces the "definition" 
>of the hologram's image.  

The same applies for neural networks.

>The idea of "uploading" our memories is yet a long way off.  

What do you define as "long" ? (50, 100 or more years)

Grtz,
>Hkl

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