Consciousness

What is it? Part of the mind? Something separate (emergence)? Complex adaption? Evolution? Role in intelligence? No one knows.

Quantum Theory and the Conscious mind A beam of light is projected on a slit in a barrier of some sort. The results are a projection on a wall beyond the slit of a wave-like result. A bright center with diminishing brightness to either side of a center slit-like image. The result of a wave-like function projection. If single photons are aimed at the slit, as expected, a single line appears. Particles centered as they should be. Now, a second slit is introduced parallel to the first and a beam of light is projected at both slits. As expected, an interference pattern results with several weakening beams moving outward in both directions. The result of a wave-like function. Now, a beam of single photons is sent toward the two slits. Now, the expected result does not occur. Not two slits, but an interference pattern just like the results of a wave-like function. Somehow the photons, even though they are discrete particles, behave as a wave. To figure this out, an observer places a measuring device to make sure that the photons haven’t somehow turned themselves into waves, or, in the case of single photons, gone through both slits at once and interfered with itself to create the wavelike image. The measuring device, the action of observing the photons(s) entering the slits causes the photons to act only as photons and the originally predicted two slits appear. The act of observation, maybe our consciousness as you so eloquently point out, has caused a change in the properties of the wave function. The collapse.

Questions My question is this. Imagine two observers, unknown to one another, each situated on opposite sides of a wall with two slits in it. Call them A and B, with A being the experimenter and B being the observer. Now, A carries out the experiment described above but without seeing the results of the actions taken. B, on the other hand, knows nothing of A’s action but simply does as instructed: watches the screen to see if any changes in the pattern occurs. The question then is, what does B actually see? Does the image change, or remain the same. It seems to me that this is an important question. From A’s perspective, the measuring device has clicked or in some other way indicated that particles have entered the slit(s). In other words, we have to assume that A does not imagine the collapse of the wave function. Therefore, one has to assume that B sees a change take place. If this is the case, one has to further assume that once the wave function collapses, it’s permanent. Meaning that if we could observe and measure all waves in the universe, there would be no more waves at all. If B sees no change, then somehow A’s ability to collapse the wave function is entirely local. But if this were the case, then why does A see the change when the wall is removed and B no longer around? It’s obviously not local. Many other questions also arise, but I’ll leave those to another time.

Physics and... Henry Stapp (Mindful Universe) Roger Penrose (The Emperor’s New Mind)

Answer If experimenter/observer A is able to find out which slit the photons are going through then quantum mechanics unambiguously predicts that the experimenter/observer B will see no interference pattern. No competent quantum physicist could give you an answer that contradicts this! Henry Stapp (in response to Cope’s question)