(May 10, 2009 at 10:01 pm)g-mark Wrote: Quantum Biology is a dicipline that hopes to connect Quantum physics and the Life sciences. Although the brain is a macroscopic system, the fundamental processes operate on an atomic level.Yes of course, but quantum computation is only possible at low temperature, it relies on putting electrons in certain states (with known quantum numbers n, l, ml and ms) and them staying there (or having a high probability of doing so)
At the temperature of the brain the Fermi-Dirac distribution has a reasonable probablility above the Fermi energy and hence there is a chance for an electron to be thermally excited to a higher energy level (higher n, ml changing by +/- 1 or 0)
in this case the system become decoherent, unless there's a way of stopping this, quantum computation in the brain wouldn't work (I'm not saying that it's impossible, just that on the available evidence it seems unlikely)
(May 10, 2009 at 10:01 pm)g-mark Wrote: The opearation of the brain concerns neurons (brain cells) connected with synaptic connections via the synaptic cleft. Synapses can be chemical or electrical in nature. Neurons use the chemical and electrical synapses in a process known as synaptic transmission. The fundamental process that triggers synaptic transmission is the action potential, a propagating electrical signal that is generated by exploiting the electrically excitable membrane of the neuron. This is also known as a wave of depolarization.This is a classical wave, not related to a quantum mechanical wavefunction (of course the individual electrons forming the current obey QM but the macroscopic wave can be treated classically, much like a current pulse in a wire)
(May 10, 2009 at 10:01 pm)g-mark Wrote: Phil, when you have a degree in either biology, psychology, or quantum physics and you have written a paper that has been peer reviewed, I will consider your opinion as valid.
As far as I'm aware degrees just in quantum physics aren't available. You wouldn't really understand it without knowing classical physics as well.
But in 2 years (or maybe 1 if I decide to do BSc and take masters elsewhere) I will have a degree in physics.
Yourself?
Galileo was a man of science oppressed by the irrational and superstitious. Today, he is used by the irrational and superstitious who claim they are being oppressed by science - Mark Crislip
