Do you ever wonder about the most mysterious functions of the human brain, such as consciousness, emotions, and how we remember things that happened a long time ago?
Scientists have come up with a plausible answer – Quantum Computing . It is very likely that the advanced abilities that the human brain has, such as information processing and decision-making, come from quantum computing.
They believe that phenomena such as quantum entanglement and superposition may be a common occurrence in our brains and may very well explain their extremely fast and complex operation. If confirmed, this could increase our understanding of the inner workings of the brain and help in medical treatment.
For those who are not familiar, quantum computing works on the fundamental laws of quantum mechanisms that explain our universe at a smaller atomic level – where the rules of classical physics no longer apply.
Here, the data storage bits 1 and 0, also known as on/off switches in classical computers, are replaced by qubits that can simultaneously be 1 and 0. Researchers are trying to determine the presence of these qubits in the human brain.
Although qubits require very low temperatures, there may be a solution in warm and wet gray matter that allows quantum computations to be performed.
This research also focuses on determining whether qubits can be stored in nuclear spins in the nucleus of atoms instead of surrounding electrons. Phosphorus atoms, which are abundant in our bodies, could also be a biochemical qubit, according to the scientists.
If the brain is truly a quantum computer, there must be a built-in way to protect our biological qubits from disentanglement: a point where quantum entanglement begins to break down. That's why scientists will consider disentanglement in the brain.
Just like quantum computers, our brains could potentially create quantum coupled networks through neurotransmitters and synaptic firing. Matthew Fischer of UCSB and his team will conduct an experiment to mimic these conditions in the brain and unravel its mysteries. While there is no guarantee that these experiments will give us the answers we seek, this research could shed light on the workings of our most complex organ.
