Conscious agency is considered to be founded upon a quantum state of mind . An original synthesis, called “Lithium Quantum Consciousness” (LQC), proposes that this quantum state utilises lithium-6 (spin-1) qutrit nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) quantum information processing (QIP) in the connectome (brain-graph). In parallel to the connectome’s processing of physiological controls, perception, cognition and intelligence via quantum electrodynamics (QED), the connectome also functions via its dynamic algebraic topology as a unitary transceiver antenna laced with lithium-6 nuclei which are spin-entangled with each other and with the environmental vortical gluon field via quantum chromodynamics (QCD). This unitary antenna (connectome) bestows the self its unity of consciousness within an intertwined-history multi-agent environment. An equivalence is proposed between Whitehead’s occasions of experience and topological spacetime instantons in the vortical gluon field. Topological spacetime instantons pervade the vortical gluon field in a quantum information network of vortex interactions, herein termed the “instanton-net”, or “Instanet” [sic]. The fermionic isotope lithium-6 has a very low nuclear binding energy and the smallest non-zero nuclear electric quadrupole moment of any stable nucleus making it susceptible to quantum chromodynamic (QCD) interaction with the vortical gluon field and ideal for spin-1 qutrit NMR-QIP. The compact spherical atomic orbital of lithium provides ideal rotational freedom inside tetrahedral water cages in organo 6Li +(H 2O) 4 within which the lithium nucleus rapidly tumbles for NMR motional narrowing and long decoherence times. Nuclear spin-entanglement, among water-caged lithium-6 nuclei in the connectome, is a spin-1 qutrit NMR-QIP resource for conscious agency. By contrast, similar tetrahedral xenon cages in organo6Li+Xe4 excimers are postulated to decohere the connectome’s NMR-QIP due to xenon’s NMR signal being extremely sensitive to its molecular environment. By way of this quantum neurochemistry, lithium is an effective psychiatric medication for enhancing mood and xenon is an effective anaesthetic.
This paper offers a new and original synthesis, called Lithium Quantum Consciousness (LQC), which comes about through the extension of the author’s research programme on quantum intelligent cosmology, into the realm of quantum conscious cosmology. A metaheuristic which outlines a qutrit-based quantum deep-learning Triuniverse concept [
A key theme and claim which carries through my programme into this paper is Nature’s proposed fundamental, evolutionary and multi-levelled deep-learning quantum ternary computation by way of qutrits, not qubits. Another continued theme is that the naturally entangled conscious agency of life and its evolution seems pivotal to observed physical phenomena, from the Planck to cosmological scales.
Furthermore, a meta-stable Reality seems to exist despite profound uncertainties in its quantum information foundations. We shall see in the course of this paper that quantum field fluctuations and their associated instantons (networked vortical field configurations with a “topological twist”) form a quantum information computation network (
Seminal works on the quantum state of mind by Fisher [
Fisher has been developing ideas on nuclear spin quantum information processing as an explanation for the workings of the conscious mind. He highlights the long established positive effects that lithium has on those suffering from mood disorders [
In framing this quest, Fisher constrains his search to find a common biological element (CHNOPS: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur) with an isolated nuclear spin, to serve as a “neural qubit”, i.e. an atom with a nuclear spin ½. I believe this qubit 2-level quantum system constraint on the search leads to a conclusion which is not necessarily the most natural. Nonetheless, by applying that 2-level constraint, Fisher rationally concludes that phosphorous-31 is the sought after “neural qubit” and he operationalises it by screening it from rapid decoherence within Posner molecules, Ca9(PO4)6.
Alternatively, consistent with my quantum intelligent cosmology programme and the quantum deep learning Triuniverse metaheuristic within it [
A qutrit has three orthogonal basis states | − 1 〉 , | 0 〉 , and | 1 〉 which are used to describe the balanced ternary quantum state of mind | Ξ 〉 as a superposition in the form of a linear combination of the three states:
| Ξ 〉 = c 1 | − 1 〉 + c 2 | 0 〉 + c 3 | 1 〉 (1)
where the coefficients c1, c2 and c3 are probability amplitudes, such that the sum of their squares is unity:
| c 1 | 2 + | c 2 | 2 + | c 3 | 2 = 1 (2)
A qutrit is argued to be the smallest system that exhibits inherent quantum features such as contextuality [
We therefore seek a natural “neural qutrit”, i.e. an atom with a nuclear spin-1 and that turns out to be an acutely focused search criteria. In Nature, there are only three spin-1 stable light isotopes: hydrogen-2 (deuterium), lithium-6 and nitrogen-14. A textbook on spin-1 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), focuses on these three isotopes and has been written by Chandrakumar [
Dogra, Dorai and Arvind [
Solvation of lithium in water clusters is described amongst others by [
A further characteristic of lithium-6 NMR is significant in this synthesis, namely
the very narrow natural linewidth of lithium-6 (Γ⁄2π = 5.87 MHz) [
Another key catalyst for my research into quantum conscious cosmology has been the collaborative works of Penrose and Hameroff [
ω ε ≡ x ( τ ε ) (3)
The instanton solution jumps from one vacuum x = − 1 to another vacuum x = 1 instantly where τ ε → 0 hence the term “instanton”. The spatiotemporal absence of an instanton, represented instantaneously by the empty vacuum, embodies a third and zero state, x = 0 , see Equation (1) and note spacetime states of instantons thus represent a qutrit resource. Equation (3) also relates to the constituents of what philosophers call qualia.
For background, studies and bibliographies on instantons the reader is referred to [
The dynamic algebraic-topology of the connectome (brain-graph) is a subject of active neuroscientific research [
Two particular characteristics of the physical connectome of white matter tracts of bundled myelinated axons are highlighted. Firstly, the trace element lithium is preferentially localised in the white matter tracts, rather than in the folded grey matter cortex [
balance and the neural field patterns matches neurophysiological changes observed during recovery and loss of consciousness. They provide examples of low frequency connectome harmonics, for given wave numbers and present corresponding spatial patterns of synchronous oscillations estimated by the eigenvectors of the connectome Laplacian.
Such neural field fluctuations are herein conjectured to correlate with low frequency quantum field fluctuation harmonics through a mediating role played by the connectome laced with entangled fermionic spin-1 lithium-6 which provides the architecture for qutrit NMR-QIP. As such, this connectome architecture is an isotropic unitary transceiver antenna, or wireless router, for quantum information exchanges and for a deep-learning quantum information computer which hosts quantum consciousness. Whilst the connectome processes physiological controls, perception, cognition and intelligence via its quantum electrodynamics (QED), the author hypothesises that in parallel the connectome processes consciousness via quantum chromodynamics (QCD). Hyperfine interaction between the lithium-6 nucleus and its electron environment connects NMR-QIP of consciousness (QCD) with the parallel processing of physiological controls, perception, cognition and intelligence (QED).
It is of note that colour confinement is a fundamental characteristic of QCD and this is conjectured herein to confine an individual’s quantum state of mind | Ξ 〉 to the self and to prevent extra-cerebral telepathy. Had QED consciousness been naturally selected during biological evolution, instead of QCD consciousness, then perhaps the unconfined interactions of QED might have enabled quantum telepathy? It is the author’s belief that such an unconfined ability would not necessarily bestow selective advantage. Indeed, unconfined quantum telepathy might be experienced by the conscious agent as a chaotic cacophony of multi-selves in a manner more debilitating than chronic schizophrenia. Hence NMR-QIP (QCD colour confined to the agent’s own connectome) is Nature’s selected physics underpinning the individual’s privately confined experience of unity of consciousness.
Topological spacetime instantons pervade the vortical gluon field in a quantum information network of vortex interactions, herein termed the “instanton-net”, or “Instanet” [sic]. The more familiar human invention which we know as the Internet (a global system of interconnected computer networks using common protocols) provides a convenient analogy for the postulated QCD “instanton-net”, or “Instanet”. In computer science terminology the QCD “Instanet” has an event-driven architecture, where an event is a change in state. Instantons in the gluon field are foundational to these events (
Physical phenomena emerge from the Instanet-connected automation protocol, otherwise known as the (fundamentally tripartite [
their QCD consciousness the agents experience and impose their free will upon the multi-agent and multi-thing environment, which is the “Instanet of Things”. All agents and all things inter-operate within the quantum information network of the spacetime instanton gluon field, the “Instanet of Things”. In this way quantum information is the conserved currency of all interactions.
Interconnection of embedded devices in the “Instanet of Things”, including “smart objects” (intelligent and conscious life forms), enables pervasive “automated” interactions under the laws of physics and enables advanced complex quantum information processes, like a “smart grid” or “society” of history-intertwined conscious life forms. Dumb objects (e.g. rock fragments) are also embedded devices in the “Instanet of Things” however they lack conscious free will and are thus slaves to the “automated” interactions under the laws of physics (e.g. accreting into planets subject to plate tectonics and erosion etc.). In essence, order emerges amidst fundamental uncertainty due to the quantum information interconnections amongst everything: dumb things, smart things and conscious agents. Self- organisation of spontaneous order in complex systems is thus enabled by the “Instanet of Things” and conscious agents have evolved therein to exert free will on the system evolution, thereby contributing to its quantum deep-learning [
Furthermore, QCD entanglement of the observer’s conscious self with the vortical gluon field causes the “Measurement Problem” [
Penultimately, work on excimers of lithium within tetrahedral xenon cages 6Li+Xe4 [
Finally, heavy metal atom interaction with organo6Li+(H2O)4 NMR-QIP impairs brain function. The brain has however naturally evolved neuroprotective countermeasures. The meninges are three membranes which envelope the brain. The innermost one, which adheres to the brain, is the delicate and fluid-impermeable “pia mater”. Detoxifying neuroprotective metallothionein binds heavy metals which concentrate in the pia mater. The pia mater is thus a barrier which effectively keeps heavy metals outside the brain and has two positive consequences in this synthesis. One is that lithium-6 within the connectome is able to host NMR-QIP without heavy metal interference. The other is that quantum physical containment by heavy metal enriched pia mater shields (via electronic spin-orbit interaction contribution to nuclear magnetic shielding) [
A summary list of the components of Lithium Quantum Consciousness (LQC):
1) Conscious agency is founded upon a quantum state of mind | Ξ 〉 ;
2) Connectome (brain-graph) processes physiological controls, perception, cognition and intelligence via quantum electrodynamics (QED);
3) In parallel, the connectome also processes the experience of consciousness via quantum chromodynamics (QCD);
4) QCD colour confinement confines individual’s quantum state of mind | Ξ 〉 to the self;
5) Topological spacetime instantons pervade the vortical gluon field in a quantum information network of vortex interactions, termed the “instanton-net”, or “Instanet” [sic];
6) In computer science the “Instanet” has an event-driven architecture, where an event is a change in state and instantons in the gluon field are foundational to these events;
7) Reality is experienced by a conscious agent via QCD connectome connection to the “Instanet of Things” which comprises interacting objects, intelligent devices (including lifeforms) and fellow conscious agents (sentient animals);
8) All agents and all things inter-operate within the quantum information network of the spacetime instanton gluon field, the “Instanet of Things”;
9) Natural, and therein neural, quantum information processing (QIP) involves qutrit quantum ternary computation, in a Triuniverse [
10) Lithium-6 is susceptible to QCD interaction with the vortical gluon field (hence the “Instanet”) due to its very low nuclear binding energy and the smallest non-zero nuclear electric quadrupole moment of any stable nucleus;
11) Lithium-6 is ideal for spin-1 qutrit nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) QIP;
12) Compact spherical atomic orbital of lithium provides ideal rotational freedom inside tetrahedral water cages in organo6Li+(H2O)4;
13) Nuclear spin-entanglement, among water-caged lithium-6 nuclei, is a spin-1 qutrit NMR-QIP resource for conscious agency;
14) Narrow natural linewidth of lithium-6 ( Γ / 2 π = 5.87 MHz ) enables low-error spike QIP in the connectome;
15) Hyperfine interaction between the lithium-6 nucleus and its electron environment connects NMR-QIP of consciousness (QCD) with the parallel processing of physiological controls, perception, cognition and intelligence (QED);
16) Conscious agent’s lithium-laced white matter tracts act as an isotropic unitary transceiver antenna, and wireless router, connected to the “Instanet of Things” (Reality);
17) White matter unitary antenna is laced with lithium-6 nuclei which are spin-entangled with each other and the vortical gluon field;
18) White matter unitary transceiver antenna is a quantum computer, and wireless router, and bestows the self its unity of consciousness;
19) QCD entanglement of observer’s self with the vortical gluon field leads to the “Measurement Problem” and the conscious agent is inextricably entangled with the “Instanet of Things” which includes all instruments and experiments;
20) Neural field fluctuations correlate with quantum field fluctuations and their harmonics;
21) Whitehead’s actual occasions of experience are equivalent to topological spacetime instantons in the vortical gluon field (event-driven “Instanet” architecture);
22) Tetrahedral xenon cages in organo6Li+Xe4 excimers decohere the connectome’s NMR-QIP due to xenon’s NMR signal being extremely sensitive to its molecular environment.
Considering this above synthesis holistically and being founded on quantum information, I propose the following synopsis. Meta-stable societal coexistence and coevolution, emerges with a semblance of order from fundamental uncertainty, as a complex quantum system where the conscious agent, other agents and the environment exert natural actions, reactions and free will (in the case of conscious agents) on each other, thus building correlations through qutrit quantum deep-learning, intertwined-histories and braided worldlines. This dynamic evolving ensemble manifests itself to a conscious agent as our Triuniverse [
Biological receptors, processors and transceivers of physiological controls, perception, cognition, intelligence and consciousness are all subject to evolutionary natural selection, with advanced organisms having more capable and computationally advantageous sets of integrated sensory faculties. From this vantage point across the evolutionary fitness landscape, our species Homo sapiens is reasonably elevated, when compared to say Caenorhabditis elegans (roundworm). However, the author believes the present earthly biological level of evolution of quantum states of consciousness is unlikely to be at the maximum natural potential. This belief is an extension of universal non-anthropocentrism. More humbly, perhaps human consciousness is close to a local maximum on the evolutionary fitness landscape, but we may be currently limited to the biological “foothills” of a mountain range of conscious potential.
Indeed, the proposals herein can be technologically tested, harnessed, amplified and augmented, in manmade lithium-water synthetic brains for quantum deep-learning artificial consciousness. Such lithium-water synthetic brains could in principle surpass those which have evolved so far within the biology of our planet. Much as nuclear reactors are controlled by elements with high neutron capture cross-sections, e.g. silver, indium, boron and cadmium, the proposed level of consciousness of the lithium-water synthetic brain could be controlled by variably substituting water with anaesthetic xenon, which decoheres the connectome’s NMR-QIP, with the creation of unconscious lithium-xenon excimers.
With appropriate in vivo clinical care and ethical controls, lithium-water synthetic brain material in impermeable vessels could be implanted within the brain, under the skull, under or exterior to the scalp, even applied topically to provide an additional proximal resource for one’s own quantum mind. An ethical purpose would be to provide prosthetic medical care for patients with dissociative, bipolar and mood disorders, though for the mentally fit, augmented conscious enlightenment would also be accessible through such technologies. Lithium-water NMR-QIP technologies could also form the basis of a brain-computer interface.
Notwithstanding, lithium-water synthetic brain material could be assembled ex vivo into an artificial functionally dynamic algebraic topological connectome. That artificial connectome could exploit quantum deep-learning to evolve its design such that subsequently adapted versions, assembled robotically, could attain ever higher levels of consciousness. The levels to which such ex vivo synthetic quantum consciousness might rise are incomprehensible to present day humans. This therefore demands our utmost respect for unintended consequences and prior open debate of this technological opportunity and ethical (if not existential) threat.
An equivalence is proposed between Whitehead’s occasions of experience and topological spacetime instantons in the vortical gluon field. The conscious agency of life is thereby considered to be founded upon a quantum state of mind | Ξ 〉 . Topological spacetime instantons pervade the vortical gluon field in a quantum information network of vortex interactions, termed the “instanton-net”, or “Instanet” [sic].
The fermionic isotope lithium-6 has a very low nuclear binding energy and the smallest non-zero nuclear electric quadrupole moment of any stable nucleus making it susceptible to quantum chromodynamic (QCD) interaction with the vortical gluon field and ideal for spin-1 qutrit nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) quantum information processing. The compact spherical atomic orbital of lithium provides ideal rotational freedom inside tetrahedral water cages in organo6Li+(H2O)4 within which the lithium nucleus rapidly tumbles for NMR motional narrowing and long decoherence times. The wet fatty white matter tracts of the brain’s connectome are considered to be laced with trace amounts of organo6Li+(H2O)4.
In parallel to the connectome’s processing of physiological controls, perception, cognition and intelligence via quantum electrodynamics (QED), the connectome also functions via its dynamic algebraic topology as a unitary transceiver antenna laced with lithium-6 nuclei which are spin-entangled with each other and with the environmental vortical gluon field via quantum chromodynamics (QCD). Lithium Quantum Consciousness (LQC) in sentient agents thereby intersects the vortical gluon field in spacetime and quantum information entanglements connect consciousness with the “Instanet of Things”. QCD entanglement of an observer’s conscious self with the vortical gluon field thus leads to the “Measurement Problem”.
Technologies which may be developed from these ideas include spin-1 qutrit organo6Li+(H2O)4 NMR quantum computers which 1) ex vivo, exhibit artificial intelligence and artificial consciousness, 2) in vivo, in an impermeable vessel placed in or proximal to the brain, augment human intelligence and human consciousness, and 3) provide a brain-computer interface.
This original research is self-funded and I thank my reviewers and editors for their valuable support.
McCoss, A. (2017) Lithium Quantum Consciousness. Journal of Quantum Information Science, 7, 125-139. https://doi.org/10.4236/jqis.2017.74010