dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaQuantum Physics in Neuroscience and Psychology: A New Theory With Respect to Mind/Brain Interaction
| Authors | J. M. Schwartz, H. P. Stapp, M. Beauregard |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | q-bio/0401019 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/q-bio/0401019 |
Abstract
The cognitive frame in which most neuropsychological research on the neural basis of behavior is conducted contains the assumption that brain mechanisms per se fully suffice to explain all psychologically described phenomena. This assumption stems from the idea that the brain is made up entirely of material particles and fields, and that all causal mechanisms must therefore be formulated solely in terms of properties of these elements. One consequence of this stance is that psychological terms having intrinsic mentalistic and/or experiential content (terms such as "feeling," "knowing," and "effort") have not been included as primary causal factors in neuropsychological research: insofar as properties are not described in material terms they are deemed irrelevant to the causal mechanisms underlying brain function. However, the origin of this demand that experiential realities be excluded from the causal base is a theory of nature that has been known for more that three quarters of a century to be fundamentally incorrect. It is explained here why it is consequently scientifically unwarranted to assume that material factors alone can in principle explain all causal mechanisms relevant to neuroscience. More importantly, it is explained how a key quantum effect can be introduced into brain dynamics in a simple and practical way that provides a rationally coherent, causally formulated, physics-based way of understanding and using the psychological and physical data derived from the growing set of studies of the capacity of directed attention and mental effort to systematically alter brain function.
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"abstract": "The cognitive frame in which most neuropsychological research on the neural\nbasis of behavior is conducted contains the assumption that brain mechanisms\nper se fully suffice to explain all psychologically described phenomena. This\nassumption stems from the idea that the brain is made up entirely of material\nparticles and fields, and that all causal mechanisms must therefore be\nformulated solely in terms of properties of these elements. One consequence of\nthis stance is that psychological terms having intrinsic mentalistic and/or\nexperiential content (terms such as \"feeling,\" \"knowing,\" and \"effort\") have\nnot been included as primary causal factors in neuropsychological research:\ninsofar as properties are not described in material terms they are deemed\nirrelevant to the causal mechanisms underlying brain function. However, the\norigin of this demand that experiential realities be excluded from the causal\nbase is a theory of nature that has been known for more that three quarters of\na century to be fundamentally incorrect. It is explained here why it is\nconsequently scientifically unwarranted to assume that material factors alone\ncan in principle explain all causal mechanisms relevant to neuroscience. More\nimportantly, it is explained how a key quantum effect can be introduced into\nbrain dynamics in a simple and practical way that provides a rationally\ncoherent, causally formulated, physics-based way of understanding and using the\npsychological and physical data derived from the growing set of studies of the\ncapacity of directed attention and mental effort to systematically alter brain\nfunction.",
"arxiv_id": "q-bio/0401019",
"authors": [
"J. M. Schwartz",
"H. P. Stapp",
"M. Beauregard"
],
"categories": [
"q-bio.NC"
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"title": "Quantum Physics in Neuroscience and Psychology: A New Theory With Respect to Mind/Brain Interaction",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/q-bio/0401019"
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