The brain is an incredible and mysterious organ, responsible for our thoughts, memories, and sense of self. But what if the true nature of the brain goes beyond just the neurons and connections we can see?
Recent scientific ideas suggest that the brain may be operating in the strange and baffling world of quantum physics.
Quantum entanglement is a phenomenon where particles become deeply linked, such that what happens to one instantly affects the other - even if they are very far apart.
Some scientists now wonder if this quantum entanglement could be happening in our brains, connecting our individual consciousnesses into a vast, interconnected network that goes beyond the boundaries of our physical bodies.
If this is true, it could mean that our understanding of reality, identity, and our place in the universe is much more complex than we ever imagined.
Quantum Entanglement and the Brain
One of the central and most intriguing principles of quantum physics is the phenomenon of quantum entanglement. At the quantum level, all subatomic particles are inter connected and are influencing one another, regardless of time and space.
Given the human brain is made up of sub atomic particles, then implies that all our brains are connected beyond constraints of time and space - i.e in the quantum field.
If brain cells and their components are entangled at the quantum level, it could create an interconnected network that transcends the individual, leading to a profound rethinking of consciousness, identity, and the nature of reality itself.
If all brains are connected through quantum entanglement - what we then have is essentially, one brain, that we are all having various and seemingly different experiences of.
If we are all part of a single, interconnected 'brain' or 'mind', the very notion of our individual identity is challenged.
To what degree are we individuals and to what degree are we holographic fragments of a unified quantum field, experiencing itself as individual or separate?
Some other key questions this raises:
If our individual consciousnesses are entangled and interconnected at the quantum level, how much of our sense of self and personal identity is truly "our own" versus an expression of the larger, unified field?
Does the apparent separation and isolation we experience as individuals represent the true nature of reality, or is it merely an illusion created by the limitations of our subjective perception and classical information processing in the brain?
If we are all fundamentally interconnected at the quantum level, what are the ethical and spiritual implications? How might this change our understanding of our relationship to others and the universe as a whole?
This quantum model of the brain could help explain many of the extraordinary phenomena that have long puzzled us, from distance healing, to telepathic communication and shared dreams to the feeling of being "psychically" connected to others.
The Microtubules in our Brain are Quantum Receptors
Buried deep within the neurons of the brain are tiny structures known as microtubules. Microtubules are microscopic, hollow tubular structures that are a critical component of the cytoskeleton within cells. They exhibit a fascinating hexagonal grid-like lattice geometry that has sparked the idea that they may be involved in information processing. They are capable of deeper, faster activity that are related to cognitive functions within neurons, including the ability to modulate the firing of axons.
Microtubules were first discovered and described in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Keith Porter (1954) was one of the first scientists to observe "microtubular elements" and found that they were responsibible for cell movement and division.
Evidence suggests that thse microtubules exhibit self-similar patterns of conductive resonances across a wide range of frequencies - from terahertz (the highest) down to hertz (the lowest). These resonances seem to originate from quantum-level interactions between the aromatic amino acids that make up the microtubules. Furthermore, research on neuronal networks has shown that the gigahertz and megahertz oscillations in the microtubules within neurons can actually regulate the firing of distant axonal branches, thereby influencing the brain's overall membrane and synaptic activities.
The critical roles that microtubules play within the cells of the human body are incredibly important for our neurological processes and mental health.
Their role includes:
1.Providing a scaffold for the cell's shape and organization:
In the brain, microtubules are responsible for maintaining the structure and shape of neurons. This structural support is essential for connectivity of neurons which allows us to actually formulate thought. Within neurons, microtubules act as "highways" for the transport of essential organelles, neurotransmitters, and other critical materials throughout the cell. This allows for the rapid and efficient distribution of resources needed for neuronal function, such as the delivery of neurotransmitters to the synaptic terminals for communication between neurons.
2.Enabling the separation of chromosomes during cell division:
Microtubules play a vital role in the division and proliferation of neural stem cells. This process is responsible for generating new neurons and glial cells throughout life, and our neuroplasticity levels and ability to learn new information. Microtubules are essential for the formation and function of cilia in the brain's ependymal cells. The cilia help circulate the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is critical for providing nutrients, removing toxins from the brain, and for the health of our whole nervous system.
3.Acting as "tracks" for molecular motor proteins:
Microtubules serve as "tracks" for molecular motor proteins. Motor proteins use microtubules to transport essential neurotransmitters, organelles, and signaling molecules, to the synaptic terminals of neurons. This transport system is vital for the transmission of information and the maintenance of neuronal communication.
If these minuscule tubular formations found within the cytoskeletons of brain cells are affected by vibrations and frequencies of the quantum realm, our brain therefore, is not just a conduit of electrical signals, but also quantum ones. Quantum healing therefore, is key to our mental wellbeing because our brain is a quantum receptor and modulator. Our electrical nervous system is being shaped by underlying quantum processes that govern and provide information.
Did Ancient Civilisations Know About Quantum Microtubule Activity?
In ancient Indian traditions like Vedanta and Yoga, there is a strong emphasis on the idea of a universal consciousness (known as Brahman or Atman) that underpins and connects all of reality.
"That which is the finest essence — this whole world has that as its soul. That is Reality. That is Atman. That art thou." - Chandogya Upanishad 6.8.7
This enigmatic verse from the Upanishads speaks to the idea of an essential, underlying unity that permeates all of existence.
The reference to "the finest essence" that is the "soul" of the entire world evokes parallels to the quantum field or "quantum vacuum" that some quantum scientists believe is the fundamental basis of our reality.
Moreover, the declaration that "That art thou" - meaning that the true self (Atman) is identical to the ultimate reality (Brahman) - suggests a holistic, interconnected view of consciousness that resonates with the quantum concept of entanglement. The notion that the individual self is not separate from the universal consciousness echoes the quantum idea of a "universal mind" or field of awareness.
Many ancient cultures, including those of ancient Greece, Egypt, and others, incorporated distinctive column and pillar designs into their architecture. These structural elements often exhibited intriguing geometric patterns and symmetries that bear striking visual similarities to the tubular and helical forms of microtubules.
For example, the iconic fluted columns of ancient Greek architecture, with their repeating vertical grooves, share a resemblance to the cylindrical structure of microtubules. Similarly, the intricate lotus-inspired columns found in ancient Egyptian temples seem to echo the spiraling, fractal-like patterns observed in microtubule networks.
It's possible that the ancients, through keen observation of the natural world and an intuitive understanding energy and underlying geometric principles, they were able to incorporate these microtubule-like forms into their architectural designs.
This could suggest a deeper awareness, even if not a formal scientific understanding, of the ubiquitous presence and importance of these microscopic structures in the natural world.
Furthermore, the reverence for sacred geometry and the belief in the interconnectedness of all things, which were central to many ancient worldviews, may have informed the architectural choices of these civilizations. On the left, is the magnificent Moorish architecture of the Alhambra where sacred geometry is front and centre.
The microtubule-like designs may have been seen as representing the fundamental patterns and rhythms of the universe, reflecting a holistic, quantum-like perspective on reality.
The Implications of a Quantum Brain
If our consciousness, decision-making, and even our sense of self are rooted in the peculiar and counterintuitive realm of quantum physics, it could profoundly transform our understanding of reality itself.
We need a new way of looking at the brain - as a hierarchical system that extends both outward, from individual neurons to larger networks, and inward, down to the quantum and classical processes happening within the neurons themselves, particularly in the microtubules.
Evidence suggests that these microscopic structures, which are the most abundant protein in the brain, exhibit self-similar patterns of conductive resonances across a wide range of frequencies, originating from quantum-level interactions between their amino acid components.
Moreover, research has shown that the high-frequency oscillations within neuronal microtubules can regulate the firing of distant axonal branches, directly influencing the brain's overall membrane and synaptic activities.
Embracing this quantum-entangled view of the brain would challenge not only our scientific frameworks, but also our philosophical and spiritual perspectives. By delving into the quantum domain of the mind, we may uncover hidden mechanisms that govern the most complex and enigmatic organ in the known universe - and in doing so, redefine our very conception of what it means to be human.
The ramifications of this paradigm shift are truly staggering to contemplate.