Spin-Mediated Consciousness Theory: An Approach Based On Pan-Protopsychism

Abstract

As an alternative to our original dualistic approach, we present here our spin-mediated consciousness theory based on pan-protopsychism. We postulate that consciousness is intrinsically connected to quantum mechanical spin since said spin is embedded in the microscopic structure of spacetime and may be more fundamental than spacetime itself. Thus, we theorize that consciousness emerges quantum mechanically from the collective dynamics of "protopsychic" spins under the influence of spacetime dynamics. That is, spin is the "pixel" of mind. The unity of mind is achieved by quantum entanglement of the mind-pixels. Applying these ideas to the particular structures and dynamics of the brain, we postulate that the human mind works as follows: The nuclear spin ensembles ("NSE") in both neural membranes and proteins quantum mechanically process consciousness-related information such that conscious experience emerges from the collapses of entangled quantum states of NSE under the influence of the underlying spacetime dynamics. Said information is communicated to NSE through strong spin-spin couplings by biologically available unpaired electronic spins such as those carried by rapidly diffusing oxygen molecules and neural transmitter nitric oxides that extract information from their diffusing pathways in the brain. In turn, the dynamics of NSE has effects through spin chemistry on the classical neural activities such as action potentials and receptor functions thus influencing the classical neural networks of said brain. We also present supporting evidence and make important predictions. We stress that our theory is experimentally verifiable with present technologies.