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Sergi A, Messina A, Vicario CM, Martino G. A Quantum-Classical Model of Brain Dynamics. ENTROPY (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 25:e25040592. [PMID: 37190380 PMCID: PMC10138112 DOI: 10.3390/e25040592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The study of the human psyche has elucidated a bipartite structure of logic reflecting the quantum-classical nature of the world. Accordingly, we posited an approach toward studying the brain by means of the quantum-classical dynamics of a mixed Weyl symbol. The mixed Weyl symbol can be used to describe brain processes at the microscopic level and, when averaged over an appropriate ensemble, can provide a link to the results of measurements made at the meso and macro scale. Within this approach, quantum variables (such as, for example, nuclear and electron spins, dipole momenta of particles or molecules, tunneling degrees of freedom, and so on) can be represented by spinors, whereas the electromagnetic fields and phonon modes can be treated either classically or semi-classically in phase space by also considering quantum zero-point fluctuations. Quantum zero-point effects can be incorporated into numerical simulations by controlling the temperature of each field mode via coupling to a dedicated Nosé-Hoover chain thermostat. The temperature of each thermostat was chosen in order to reproduce quantum statistics in the canonical ensemble. In this first paper, we introduce a general quantum-classical Hamiltonian model that can be tailored to study physical processes at the interface between the quantum and the classical world in the brain. While the approach is discussed in detail, numerical calculations are not reported in the present paper, but they are planned for future work. Our theory of brain dynamics subsumes some compatible aspects of three well-known quantum approaches to brain dynamics, namely the electromagnetic field theory approach, the orchestrated objective reduction theory, and the dissipative quantum model of the brain. All three models are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Sergi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche e Informatiche, Scienze Fisiche e Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Messina, viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
- Institute of Systems Science, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Antonino Messina
- Dipartimento di Matematica ed Informatica, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via Archirafi 34, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Carmelo M Vicario
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cognitive, Psicologiche, Pedagogiche e degli Studi Culturali, Università degli Studi di Messina, Via Concezione 6, 98121 Messina, Italy
| | - Gabriella Martino
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Clinica Sperimentale, Università degli Studi di Messina, A.O.U. "G. Martino", Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy
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Biophysical Basis of Alpha Rhythm Disruption in Alzheimer's Disease. eNeuro 2020; 7:ENEURO.0293-19.2020. [PMID: 32165411 PMCID: PMC7218006 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0293-19.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Occipital alpha is a prominent rhythm (∼10 Hz) detected in electroencephalography (EEG) during wakeful relaxation with closed eyes. The rhythm is generated by a subclass of thalamic pacemaker cells that burst at the alpha frequency, orchestrated by the interplay of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels (HCN) and calcium channels in response to elevated levels of ambient acetylcholine (ACh). These oscillations are known to have a lower peak frequency and coherence in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Interestingly, calcium signaling, HCN channel expression and ACh signaling, crucial for orchestrating the alpha rhythm, are also known to be aberrational in AD. In a biophysically detailed network model of the thalamic circuit, we investigate the changes in molecular signaling and the causal relationships between them that lead to a disrupted thalamic alpha in AD. Our simulations show that lowered HCN expression leads to a slower thalamic alpha, which can be rescued by increasing ACh levels, a common therapeutic target of AD drugs. However, this rescue is possible only over a limited range of reduced HCN expression. The model predicts that lowered HCN expression can modify the network activity in the thalamic circuit leading to increased GABA release in the thalamus and disrupt the calcium homeostasis. The changes in calcium signaling make the network more susceptible to noise, causing a loss in rhythmic activity. Based on our results, we propose that reduced frequency and coherence of the occipital alpha rhythm seen in AD may result from downregulated HCN expression, rather than modified cholinergic signaling.
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Entanglement and Phase-Mediated Correlations in Quantum Field Theory. Application to Brain-Mind States. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/app9153203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The entanglement phenomenon plays a central role in quantum optics and in basic aspects of quantum mechanics and quantum field theory. We review the dissipative quantum model of brain and the role of the entanglement in the brain-mind activity correlation and in the formation of assemblies of coherently-oscillating neurons, which are observed to appear in different regions of the cortex by use of EEG, ECoG, fNMR, and other observational methods in neuroscience.
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Capolupo A, Kozma R, Olivares Del Campo A, Vitiello G. Bessel-like functional distributions in brain average evoked potentials. J Integr Neurosci 2017; 16:S85-S98. [PMID: 29125500 DOI: 10.3233/jin-170069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Average evoked potential data recorded as impulse responses of brains to electric shocks show Bessel-like functional distributions which we analyze in terms of couples of damped/amplified oscillators. This reproduces results obtained in terms of ordinary differential equations (Freeman K-sets) and offers the possibility of a direct connection with the dissipative model of brain in the quantum gauge field theory paradigm. We study the control mechanism by fine tuning the model parameters and the brain property of discriminating between two similar behaviors or perceptions. We suggest that a similar control mechanism may be useful in security communication protocols. Finally, brain activity and mental activity is considered in the light of our results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Capolupo
- Dipartimento di Fisica "E.R.Caianiello", Universitá di Salerno and INFN, Fisciano (Salerno) 84084, Italy. E-mails: ,
| | - Robert Kozma
- Department of Mathematics, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA. E-mail: .,Department of Computer Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 001003, USA
| | - Andrés Olivares Del Campo
- Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK. E-mail:
| | - Giuseppe Vitiello
- Dipartimento di Fisica "E.R.Caianiello", Universitá di Salerno and INFN, Fisciano (Salerno) 84084, Italy. E-mails: ,
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Basti G, Capolupo A, Vitiello G. Quantum field theory and coalgebraic logic in theoretical computer science. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2017; 130:39-52. [PMID: 28479315 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2017.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2016] [Revised: 04/08/2017] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We suggest that in the framework of the Category Theory it is possible to demonstrate the mathematical and logical dual equivalence between the category of the q-deformed Hopf Coalgebras and the category of the q-deformed Hopf Algebras in quantum field theory (QFT), interpreted as a thermal field theory. Each pair algebra-coalgebra characterizes a QFT system and its mirroring thermal bath, respectively, so to model dissipative quantum systems in far-from-equilibrium conditions, with an evident significance also for biological sciences. Our study is in fact inspired by applications to neuroscience where the brain memory capacity, for instance, has been modeled by using the QFT unitarily inequivalent representations. The q-deformed Hopf Coalgebras and the q-deformed Hopf Algebras constitute two dual categories because characterized by the same functor T, related with the Bogoliubov transform, and by its contravariant application Top, respectively. The q-deformation parameter is related to the Bogoliubov angle, and it is effectively a thermal parameter. Therefore, the different values of q identify univocally, and label the vacua appearing in the foliation process of the quantum vacuum. This means that, in the framework of Universal Coalgebra, as general theory of dynamic and computing systems ("labelled state-transition systems"), the so labelled infinitely many quantum vacua can be interpreted as the Final Coalgebra of an "Infinite State Black-Box Machine". All this opens the way to the possibility of designing a new class of universal quantum computing architectures based on this coalgebraic QFT formulation, as its ability of naturally generating a Fibonacci progression demonstrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianfranco Basti
- Dipartimento di Filosofia, Università Lateranense, Roma 00184, Italy
| | - Antonio Capolupo
- Dipartimento di Fisica "E.R.Caianiello", Università di Salerno, INFN Gruppo collegato di Salerno, Fisciano (SA) 84084, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Vitiello
- Dipartimento di Fisica "E.R.Caianiello", Università di Salerno, INFN Gruppo collegato di Salerno, Fisciano (SA) 84084, Italy.
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Abstract
Neural oscillations at distinct frequencies are increasingly being related to a number of basic and higher cognitive faculties. Oscillations enable the construction of coherently organized neuronal assemblies through establishing transitory temporal correlations. By exploring the elementary operations of the language faculty-labeling, concatenation, cyclic transfer-alongside neural dynamics, a new model of linguistic computation is proposed. It is argued that the universality of language, and the true biological source of Universal Grammar, is not to be found purely in the genome as has long been suggested, but more specifically within the extraordinarily preserved nature of mammalian brain rhythms employed in the computation of linguistic structures. Computational-representational theories are used as a guide in investigating the neurobiological foundations of the human "cognome"-the set of computations performed by the nervous system-and new directions are suggested for how the dynamics of the brain (the "dynome") operate and execute linguistic operations. The extent to which brain rhythms are the suitable neuronal processes which can capture the computational properties of the human language faculty is considered against a backdrop of existing cartographic research into the localization of linguistic interpretation. Particular focus is placed on labeling, the operation elsewhere argued to be species-specific. A Basic Label model of the human cognome-dynome is proposed, leading to clear, causally-addressable empirical predictions, to be investigated by a suggested research program, Dynamic Cognomics. In addition, a distinction between minimal and maximal degrees of explanation is introduced to differentiate between the depth of analysis provided by cartographic, rhythmic, neurochemical, and other approaches to computation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliot Murphy
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College LondonLondon, UK
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Fukushima M, Chao ZC, Fujii N. Studying brain functions with mesoscopic measurements: Advances in electrocorticography for non-human primates. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2015; 32:124-31. [PMID: 25889531 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2015.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2014] [Revised: 02/07/2015] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Our brain is organized in a modular structure. Information in different modalities is processed within distinct cortical areas. However, individual cortical areas cannot enable complex cognitive functions without interacting with other cortical areas. Electrocorticography (ECoG) has recently become an important tool for studying global network activity across cortical areas in animal models. With stable recordings of electrical field potentials from multiple cortical areas, ECoG provides an opportunity to systematically study large-scale cortical activity at a mesoscopic spatiotemporal resolution under various experimental conditions. Recent developments in thin, flexible ECoG electrodes permit recording field potentials from not only gyral but intrasulcal cortical surfaces. Our review here focuses on the recent advances of ECoG applications to non-human primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Fukushima
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, 49 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Zenas C Chao
- Laboratory for Adaptive Intelligence Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako 351-0198, Saitama, Japan
| | - Naotaka Fujii
- Laboratory for Adaptive Intelligence Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako 351-0198, Saitama, Japan.
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Phase-resetting as a tool of information transmission. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2014; 31:206-13. [PMID: 25529003 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2014.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2014] [Revised: 11/26/2014] [Accepted: 12/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Models of information transmission in the brain largely rely on firing rate codes. The abundance of oscillatory activity in the brain suggests that information may be also encoded using the phases of ongoing oscillations. Sensory perception, working memory and spatial navigation have been hypothesized to use phase codes, and cross-frequency coordination and phase synchronization between brain areas have been proposed to gate the flow of information. Phase codes generally require the phase of the oscillations to be reset at specific reference points for consistent coding, and coordination between oscillators requires favorable phase resetting characteristics. Recent evidence supports a role for neural oscillations in providing temporal reference windows that allow for correct parsing of phase-coded information.
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