Unraveling 'You': Bioelectricity, Quantum Biology, Cognition, and the Boundaries of Selfhood: Consciousness-Take 4

Unraveling 'You': Bioelectricity, Quantum Biology, Cognition, and the Boundaries of Selfhood

Delve into the intriguing intersections of neuroscience and philosophy in 'Unraveling 'You': Bioelectricity, Cognition, and the Boundaries of Selfhood.'

#neuroscience #quantumbiology #consciousness #neuropsychiatry #wellness #mitochondria #theself #self #selfawareness

Explore the insights of top thinkers like Damasio, Varela, Maturana, Edelman, Lipton, and Levin on the dynamic nature of the 'self.' Learn how bioelectricity, cognition, and our interactions with the world shape our identities. Understand the 'self' as a static entity and a complex, ever-evolving network of biological and cognitive processes. Journey into the heart of what makes 'you' uniquely 'you.'

#neuroscience #quantumbiology #consciousness #neuropsychiatry #wellness #mitochondria #theself #self #selfawareness

So, again … here we are.

Talking about consciousness… yet again.

Psychiatrist, so occupational hazard.

Let’s blame your parents.

Your parents FINALLY think you are at an age where you MIGHT BE interesting.

Finally.

So you have been ‘conscious’ before now, right?

Since you were born technically, right?

You WERE (in the sense of ‘I AM’)…so yeah, you WERE, and have been, since you were born, but seemingly now you are different.

You have been conscious ever since but consistently inconsistent in your ‘You’-ness throughout your life.

Don’t get me wrong. You can look back and ‘see’ the 'You' you recognize. And yet, you also notice how 'You' are different now from the 'YOU' that you were when you were 16 or 17; or 5 or 3, right?

Cognition (thinking) and, as an extension, consciousness (an emergent property of brain -hardware- and thinking -information processing-) seem to change over time.

Your brain has to grow and myelinate and all that. Then you have to ‘fill it’ with information, which means interconnections, physical changes, and electrochemical changes down to the atomic scale, right?

Is it the substrate from which consciousness (the hardware, if you will: layers of complexity all the way down) emerges (the self-writing, self-correcting and self-referential software running on said hardware), seems to change over time?

Let’s explore this a bit, shall we? What do you think? (Ha Ha, get it… ah, come on! ... can’t help myself.)

What does it mean to be 'you'?

The 'self' — that consciousness we consider as uniquely ours — is one of the most captivating and complex concepts in neuroscience and philosophy. As a clinical neuroscientist and physician specializing in psychiatry and behavioral neurology, I find myself continually drawn to explore this intricate labyrinth that combines biology, experiences, cognition, and now — the fascinating world of quantum mechanics.

A non-Static 'SELF'

The world out there Making our consciousness in here

Dr. Antonio Damasio, a renowned neuroscientist, has made significant strides in our understanding of the 'self' by highlighting the crucial role of our bodily senses and emotions. In his seminal work, "The Feeling of What Happens: Body and Emotion in the Making of Consciousness," Damasio (1999) argues that our consciousness and sense of self extend beyond our physical boundaries, permeating our emotions, perceptions, and interactions with the world.

Systems that Self-create

Francisco Varela and Humberto Maturana introduced the concept of 'autopoiesis,' a phenomenon whereby all living systems are self-creating. This idea proposes that cognition emerges not as a representation of the world 'out there,' but through "continuous enaction of linkages with the environment" (Varela, 1980). Here, the 'self' becomes a dynamically evolving product of our interactions with the world.

Natural selection, but in your brain

Adding to this conversation, neuroscientist Gerald Edelman proposed the theory of "Neural Darwinism." In this model, our brains develop through a process analogous to natural selection, shaping neuronal connections based on our experiences (Edelman, 1989). Here, the 'self' evolves and changes, underpinned by our brain's creative and selective processes.

Although varied in their perspectives, Damasio, Varela, Maturana, and Edelman share a theme: the 'self' is not static; it's an evolving entity, intrinsically intertwined with our biology, environment, and interactions.

ENERGY is all in the universe. Or is it INFORMATION? Or is it MATTER?

THE ANSWER is a resounding YES!

Building on this foundation, Dr. Michael Levin introduces a novel dimension — bioelectricity. Levin (2019) suggests that bioelectric signals among cells play a pivotal role in coordinating growth, development, and even regeneration in multicellular organisms. This silent communication within us might constitute a primitive form of cognition or computation that defines the 'self.' It seems our identity emerges from a complex, biological network; our physical bodies may be the hardware, but the bioelectrical signaling runs the software of 'you.'

Now, y'all know I can't speak of energy in biology without mentioning my buddies, mitochondria (and chloroplasts, the plant equivalent) --the powerhouse of the cell.

Insert meme here! There are lots of them. My kids would all just put a picture of me and their eyes rolling. many of you, by now, would too. :(

But where does quantum biology fit into this picture? Quantum mechanics, a field that traditionally belonged to physics, has made its way into biology, providing fascinating insights into biological processes. Quantum phenomena, such as tunneling and coherence, have been observed in mitochondria (our cells' powerhouses) and chloroplasts during photosynthesis (Lambert et al., 2013).

Quantum tunneling allows particles to instantly overcome energy barriers, which enzymes use to accelerate biochemical reactions. Quantum coherence, on the other hand, allows particles to exist in multiple states simultaneously, a characteristic that could play a role in ultra-efficient energy transfer in biological systems.

Could these quantum phenomena influence our sense of 'self'? Dr. Bruce Lipton's work, which underscores the role of the environment and perception in cellular biology, could be expanded to include these quantum influences (Lipton, 2005).

Quantum phenomena could, in this context, form part of the vast array of environmental influences interpreted and responded to by our cells. Similarly, Damasio's focus on the bodily state and emotions might find quantum biology offering a new perspective.

It is conceivable that our mental states might influence our biological states at a quantum level. This is indeed speculative, but it's an area ripe for exploration. What if this loops back and informs the system, in complex-systems-biology iterative-fashion.

Similarly, a quantum perspective could deepen Levin's work on bioelectricity and scale-free cognition.

Bioelectrical signals might interact with or be influenced by quantum processes within cells, potentially enriching our understanding of the 'computational boundary of a self' (Levin, 2019).

As an aside, is this a possible path to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)? A quantum computer-like aparatus with similar tunneling and coherence information processing modules, running an 'enhanced' version of some future iteration of a Large Language Model (LLM) like the now infamous ChatGPT (BARD, LLAMA, and others).

SELF.... make thySELF...From above all the way down... and back again.

Finally, the theories of autopoiesis by Varela and Maturana, and Neural Darwinism by Edelman, which see the 'self' as the product of dynamic interactions with the environment, could incorporate quantum phenomena as part of the myriad environmental factors shaping these interactions. This view aligns with an emerging consensus that the 'self' is not a standalone entity but a complex, multi-dimensional process in constant interaction with the environment.

The 'self' is not a standalone entity but a complex, multi-dimensional process in constant interaction with the environment.

Viewed through the lens of quantum biology, the 'self' resembles a finely tuned orchestra, where information, matter, and energy interconnect and interplay across various scales — from the macroscopic to the quantum. It's an orchestra where the biological, cognitive, and environmental elements harmonize to create the symphony that is our consciousness.

The SELF: a finely tuned orchestra, where information, matter, and energy interconnect & interplay across various scales — from the macroscopic to the quantum.

The theories put forth by Damasio, Varela, Maturana, Edelman, Levin, and Lipton offer a powerful conceptual framework for understanding the 'self.'

Each thread — emotions and consciousness, autopoiesis, Neural Darwinism, bioelectricity, perception and cellular biology, and potentially quantum phenomena — adds richness and depth to our understanding of this multifaceted phenomenon we call 'self.'

We start to see the 'self' not merely as a physical entity but as a dynamic, multi-dimensional process shaped by our biology, interactions with the environment, the bioelectric signals within us, our emotions, thoughts, and, quite likely, quantum-mechanical processes.

There is no singular 'you'

As we continue our journey of exploration into the mysteries of the 'self,' we must remember its multifaceted nature. There is no singular 'you' --but a chorus of processes, all contributing to the symphony that is your consciousness. This symphony is an ongoing performance, a dynamic dance between your biology, environment, emotions, cognition, and these subtle yet powerful influences of quantum phenomena.

Far from diminishing our individuality, this perspective elevates it. It reminds us that we are not mere bystanders in the universe. We are active participants, continually creating and recreating our 'selves.'

We are not mere bystanders in the universe. We are active participants, continually creating and recreating our 'selves.'

Our exploration of the 'self' is one of the most profound journeys we can undertake — as scientists, physicians, philosophers, and as individuals. As we delve into the complex boundaries of our 'selves,' we advance our understanding of human nature and uncover deeper insights into the essential question that has captivated humanity for centuries: "Who am I?"

Another Aside: What does all this mean if you are a parent? How do we 'shape' this information and external influence affecting those little humans entrusted to us by mother nature? Their biology directly --through nutrition and health (vaccines, shelter, clothes, hydration). Their structured information --education in school and at home. Their emotional internal milieu (questions, anxiety, worries). Unstructured information --life experiences like travel, museums, parks, zoos, and walks outside? Hmmmmmm? I wish I knew then what I know now (and my parents and grandparents seemed to intuit and try to explain).

Indeed, with each scientific advance and theoretical breakthrough, we come one step closer to unraveling the mysteries of the 'self.' Yet, like any good symphony, the beauty lies not only in reaching the final note but in the richness and complexity of the music along the way.

The exploration of the 'self' is not merely an academic or scientific endeavor.

It is a profoundly human quest.

It touches every aspect of our lives, from our relationships with others to our relationship with ourselves. It informs our understanding of health and disease, shapes our beliefs and perceptions, and ultimately defines our experience of being human.

In this complex mosaic that constitutes the 'self,' quantum biology offers an exciting new dimension. The quantum phenomena at play in mitochondria and chloroplasts add another fascinating layer to our understanding of the interconnectedness of information, matter, and energy.

The impact of these quantum processes on our 'self' and our consciousness remains a frontier to be explored. While quantum biology's role in the 'self' is largely speculative at this stage, these initial intersections strongly suggest that as we learn more about quantum processes in biology, we may find even more layers of complexity in the dynamic, multifaceted phenomenon we call the 'self.'

As we continue to delve into the depths of our consciousness, we encounter an intricate network of connections and interactions —a testament to the profound complexity and beauty of the human 'self.'

"We are a way for the cosmos to know itself." --Carl Sagan

As a clinical neuroscientist, physician, and perpetual student of the 'self,' I am awed by this intricate tapestry of biological and quantum processes woven together to create our individuality's unique melody.

Perhaps, by exploring the 'self,' we are contributing to the cosmos' self-awareness.

In doing so, we are gaining a deeper understanding of our individual selves, our shared human experience, and our place in the grand tapestry of existence.

As we continue to weave together the threads of neuroscience, quantum biology, philosophy, and more, we will continue to uncover the profound richness and complexity of the 'self.'

In this journey, let us remember to celebrate not just the 'self,' but the beautiful symphony of processes that come together to create it.

Each of us, in our own unique way, contributes to the chorus of humanity.

In our exploration of our 'self,' each of us contributes to our collective understanding of what it means to be human.

So let us continue to explore...

to question...

to wonder...

and to celebrate the profound mystery and beauty of the 'self.'

References:

• Damasio, A. (1999). The Feeling of What Happens: Body and Emotion in the Making of Consciousness. Harcourt.
• Varela, F., & Maturana, H. (1980). Autopoiesis and Cognition: The Realization of the Living. D. Reidel Publishing Company.
• Edelman, G. (1989). The Remembered Present: A Biological Theory of Consciousness. Basic Books.
• Levin, M. (2019). The computational boundary of a 'self': developmental bioelectricity drives multicellularity and scale-free cognition. Front Psychology, 10, 2688.
• Lipton, B. H. (2005). The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter & Miracles. Hay House.
• Lambert, N., Chen, Y. N., Cheng, Y. C., Li, C. M., Chen, G. Y., & Nori, F. (2013). Quantum biology. Nature Physics, 9(1), 10-18.
• Al-Khalili, J., & McFadden, J. (2014). Life on the edge: the coming of age of quantum biology. Transworld Publishers.

Desiderio Pina, MD, MPH

TheMindAndBodyDoc-Physician/Neuroscientist — @mindandbodydoc

I provide compassionate care for children (5 years & older), adolescents, adults & families struggling with nutritional, drug, & neuropsychiatric problems.

Teaching is always a privilege, and I’ve been afforded the privilege to teach at various medical schools (MD & DO), residency programs (Psychiatry, Neurology, Family Practice, and Internal Medicine), and universities; I have participated in clinical and basic science research in the past, and am currently on staff at a few hospitals, but primarily care for patients via telemedicine.

I generally talk & write about things that catch my fancy in the news and from the recent medical literature. 

These include, but are not limited to: #wellness, #neurosciences, #neuropsychiatry, #culturalpsychiatry, #ethnobotony, #mycology, #mycologicalmedicine, #digitalhealthcare, #healthcaremanagement, #artificialintelligence and #psychoneuroendocrineimmunology

References:

1. Damasio, A. (1999). The Feeling of What Happens: Body and Emotion in the Making of Consciousness. Harcourt.
2. Varela, F. J., Maturana, H. R., & Uribe, R. (1980). Autopoiesis: the organization of living systems, its characterization and a model. Biosystems, 12(5), 187-196.
3. Edelman, G. M. (1989). The Remembered Present: A Biological Theory of Consciousness. Basic Books.
4. Levin, M. (2019). The computational Boundary of a "Self": Developmental Bioelectricity Drives Multicellularity and Scale Free Cognition. Communicative & Integrative Biology, 12(1), 112-120.

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