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Is the Brain a Quantum Computer?
Author(s) -
Litt Abninder,
Eliasmith Chris,
Kroon Frederick W.,
Weinstein Steven,
Thagard Paul
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
cognitive science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.498
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1551-6709
pISSN - 0364-0213
DOI - 10.1207/s15516709cog0000_59
Subject(s) - consciousness , quantum , cognitive science , quantum computer , computation , computer science , function (biology) , psychology , theoretical computer science , physics , quantum mechanics , neuroscience , algorithm , biology , evolutionary biology
We argue that computation via quantum mechanical processes is irrelevant to explaining how brains produce thought, contrary to the ongoing speculations of many theorists. First, quantum effects do not have the temporal properties required for neural information processing. Second, there are substantial physical obstacles to any organic instantiation of quantum computation. Third, there is no psychological evidence that such mental phenomena as consciousness and mathematical thinking require explanation via quantum theory. We conclude that understanding brain function is unlikely to require quantum computation or similar mechanisms.