A thermodynamic approach to the problem of consciousness

The QBIT Theory of Consciousness: Information, Correlation, and Coherence

The ultimate goal of the QBIT theory is to provide a scientific solution to the problem of consciousness. The theory assumes that qualia (plural for quale) are real physical entities. Each quale is a physical system consisting of qubits bonded together by quantum entanglement. The qubits of a quale are so intimately bonded together that they collectively form a unified whole that is more than (and different from) the sum of its parts. A quale is a highly organized, coherent system. Organization and coherence are manifestations of information. The more the amount of information in a system, the more organized, integrated, and coherent the system is. That is why the QBIT theory suggests that qualia are maximally entangled, maximally coherent systems containing high amounts of information, and extremely low amounts of entropy or uncertainty.

The QBIT Theory: Consciousness from Entangled Qubits

How does the brain generate consciousness? The present paper is an attempt to answer this question from the perspective of the QBIT theory. In sum, the theory argues that the brain has a prior belief (P) about the stimulus that has caused a sensory representation (R) to be created in the brain. When the conditional entropy of P given R becomes less than zero, the brain becomes more than certain about (i.e. becomes conscious of) the stimulus. Conditional entropy can become negative (and thus the brain can become more than certain) only if the brain uses entangled quantum information in its computations. The QBIT theory suggests that, at the most fundamental level, consciousness is nothing but a special kind of entangled information.

A Brief on Biological Thermodynamics for Human Physiology

Thermodynamics, the science of energy interactions, governs the direction of processes found in nature. While the subject finds wide applications in science and technology, its connection to biological sciences and in particular to bio-engineering is becoming increasingly important. In this work, after a brief introduction to the fundamental concepts in thermodynamics, we focus on its application in human physiology. A review of application of thermodynamics to the interaction between human body and environment is presented. Research works on biological systems such as the nervous system and the cardiovascular systems are summarized. The thermodynamics of metabolism is reviewed, and finally, the role of the subject in understanding and combating diseases is highlighted.

Comment on "A thermodynamic approach to the problem of consciousness"

Recently, Beshkar has published a paper on the nature of qualia. His argument is based on several assumptions leading to a conjecture that qualia have a negentropic nature and so as consciousness. The assumptions are: 1) quale (singular of qualia) is the building block of consciousness and thus they are equivalent, 2) qualia and consciousness are both subjective and non-observable by any experiment, 3) qualia/consciousness are negentropic (ΔS<0) structures and yet the product of a universal evolution (ΔS≥0) in an attempt to maximize entropy (ΔS=0), 4) "quale is a structure generated by a specific region of the cerebral cortex", 5) subjectivity/non-observability of qualia/consciousness stems from quantum laws erasing the trace of negentropic processes. Herein, the fundamental assumptions of this conjecture are disputed from the thermodynamic point of view, and subjectivity is scrutinized in more details. Throughout this paper, the word "observer" implies a conscious observer.