A Brief History of the Study of Consciousness, Stuart Hameroff

Stuart Hameroff, M.D., Professor, Anesthesiology and Psychology, Director, Center for Consciousness Studies

Consciousness defines our existence, but the nature of consciousness remains mysterious, debated since ancient times along two general lines. (1) Plato, Descartes and modern neuroscience have asserted that the brain produces conscious awareness, experience and a model of the world, and thus that consciousness emerged during the course of biological evolution. On the other hand, (2) Eastern philosophy, Aristotle, and modern quantum physics approaches have suggested consciousness is intrinsic to the universe, that consciousness or its precursors preceded life, and may have prompted its origin and evolution. The modern study of consciousness re-emerged in the early 1990s from the shadow of behaviorism (which had banned the topic during most of the 20th century) following well-regarded scientists like Francis Crick, Gerald Edelman and Sir Roger Penrose, and interdisciplinary conferences such as ‘Toward a Science of Consciousness’. Now, decades into the modern era, understanding is divided along the same ancient lines. (1) Materialist philosophers and cognitive neuroscientists liken consciousness to a computer simulation, and the brain to a computer, with neuronal
firings and synaptic transmissions equated to ‘bit states’ and switches in silicon (rendering consciousness epiphenomenal and devoid of causal power). Sufficiently complex computation is presumed to result in consciousness, and billions of dollars and euros are aimed at ‘mapping’ brain neurons and connections, with the hope such maps implemented in silicon will reproduce brain function including consciousness (although such mapping strategies, e.g. for simple worms, have thus far failed). (2) Quantum approaches, e.g. based on intra-neuronal structures such as microtubules, once considered unlikely at warm biological temperatures, have gained ground due to plant photosynthesis utilizing quantum coherence, and discovery of quantum resonances in microtubules. Quantum approaches connect brain function to fundamental spacetime geometry, consistent with ancient Eastern views of consciousness
intrinsic to the universe.

[freemensudhaman]

Can't stop loving this guy. Such immense energy and knowledge.

[andrewshortt]

This is dead on and deserves massive research grants.

[michaelsage]

Stuart Hameroff is a rock star! Would love to meet him some day.

[grahammarshall]

Lost for words with his time and research, this could be one of the most important breakthroughs in the history of man kind. thank you so much for this.

[ChristopheParot]

Best scientific presentation i have ever seen ! Thank you Stuart Hameroff.

[vedicwarrior]

"Expansion of happiness is the purpose of life, and evolution is the process through which it is fulfilled, " Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

[lincyu]

I guess both Hameroff and Penrose, or at least me would feel 'sorry for our good Lord', if microtubule was not the place to look at. This theory no matter how much more it needs to be fleshed out, is promising and so far it makes more sense than any other theories I know.

[sweetchinmusic]

Consciousness and the nature of human existence was first discussed in the Upanishads and Vedas ( believed to be written around 3000 BC, 2500 years before the Buddha) the ancient texts of Hinduism...

[neuroscram]

Absolutely love this channel, great to see something else from Stuart also.

Keep it up guys!

[vedicwarrior]

I am on board with this model - and believe it is correct - but I come from the "Science of Creative Intelligence", a course I took as a prerequisite to enrollment at Maharishi International University (now MUM). That course was based in the Vedic model of how awareness becomes consciousness, where awareness (field of all possibilities, pure potential), becoming so full in itself, overflows its own boundaries (super position) and then forms one-to-one correspondences with itself (collapse), thus becoming consciousness. I have practiced the TM technique since 1975, then advancing with the TM-Sidhi program in 1979 and have found that this model by Hameroff and Penrose (orch-OR) fits PERFECTLY with the Vedic model - and with the physics, a large part of the core cirriculum at MIU... Those courses included basic quantum physics, the physics of quantum coherent states (LASER, super-conductivity, superfluidity), the Physics of thermodynamic equilibrium systems and others. Additionally, we were all doing TM and/or the TM-Sidhis program - studies of which are quoted in Lynn McTaggart's "The Field" and "The Intention Experiment".

[jessewallaceable]

The sounds in the microtubuleules is just angelic.

[wonkaytry]

26:49 very interesting this was the intense noise that I heard 1 time when I was meditating at the age of 16, the noise was even stronger up to a point that I just came out of that state and I remember having fiber after that and feeling sick, I remember that the sound was exactly with that wave/eco effect but stronger.

[wonkaytry]

very complete brief study about consciousness! thank you.

[oviaelectronica]

I wonder what exactly his definition of consciousness is, because it sounded a bit like he means the state of being awake and when we are drugged or asleep, we loose consciousness? - But if that is the case, what is (unconsciously?) aware when we sleep? - If we need to be aware of our senses in order to have an experience, what is it that hears the alarm clock in the morning, if consciousness is abscent during sleep? - Anyway, great talk, very interesting and entertaining!

[b-eazy]

I'm really intrigued and interested by all of this stuff but I really have trouble finding real people to connect with about it

[frederickblume]

I am on board this model - and believe it is correct - but I come from the "Science of Creative Intelligence", a course I took as a prerequisite to enrollment at Maharishi International University (back when it was MIU, not the current MUM).  That course was based in the Vedic model of how awareness becomes consciousness, where awareness, becoming so full in itself, overflows its own boundaries (super position) and then forms one-to-one correspondences with itself (collapse of the wave function), thus becoming consciousness.  I've practiced the TM technique since 1975, then advancing with the TM-Sidhi program in 1979 and have found that this model by Hameroff and Penrose (Orch-OR) fits PERFECTLY with the Vedic model - and with the physics, a large part of the core curriculum at MIU...Those courses included basic quantum physics, the physics of quantum coherent states (LASER, super-conductivity, super fluidity), the Physics of thermodynamic equilibrium systems, Astrophysics and others. Additionally, we were all doing TM and/or the TM-Sidhis program - studies of which are quoted in Lynn McTaggart's "The Field" and "The Intention Experiment"

[kaqs]

Wonderful! The best fast talker I have heard in a long time :)

[carlog]

Hamaroff your theory hit the nail on the head

[cloudlessrainvisions]

This is a great video but the name is misleading. The history section is only a few minutes at the beginning. Really this is an introduction to the Orch Or theory.

[bobaldo]

There is no way to separate "consciousness" from its contents.