Consciousness and Quantum Mechanics: How are they related?

The 2012 paper about the influence of consciousness on the double-slit experiment is here:

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00:00 Intro
00:34 Wigner and his friends
03:39 Enter von Neumann
05:51 Problems with the Wigner-vNeumann interpretation
07:37 Consciousness-induced wave-function collapse
09:38 Consciousness-influenced wave-function collapse
14:27 Penrose and Hamaroff
15:25 Summary
16:02 Check out my Quantum Mechanics Course

#physics #quantum #consciousness

[jbsmathers]

"Bohr had no problem with saying things incomprehensible, and a lot of physicist since have followed his example." What a smile this brought to me. As a 60 year old physicist whose been waiting for such truth to leak out...., Youtube + Sabine = oxygen for those waiting for more scientific thinking / common sense at the core of physics.... THANK YOU!

[carlsonjc]

As she criticized Orch OR for not explaining how quantum states could persist in a warm wet brain and for not explaining how microtubules in neurons could be conscious but not the ones in liver cells, I imagined myself telling her, "Sabine, it's not enough to just watch a few videos, you have to engage in the material a little more deeply than that to really understand the theory. Both of those objections were effectively addressed before critics even considered ..."

The next words out of her mouth were, "It's not enough to just watch a few videos. You have to engage with the material..."

Sabine Sabine Sabine! I do love your work. But please take your own advice!

[mute]

I remember reading a sci-fi story where some scientists figured out a variation of a double-slit experiment that did physically differ when a human observed it. They made a consciousness-detecting device which was basically a box with a small window, and when someone looks inside, the green light lights up. They tested it on their dogs and cats (conscious-positive), and then started mass-producing them and selling to everyone. But it turned out, for most humans the green light stayed dark.

[earthjustice]

"Reinterpreting maths is just pushing problems around, like bumps under the carpet." Love this quote.

[urmwhynot]

For me, the hallmark of a scientist is not what they accept in any given theory but rather how they scrutinise them. Sabine, you are a master of scrutiny.

[charles.e.g.]

I think I may be making progress here! When I first discovered your channel several months ago, I was having a very difficult time understanding the videos. But now, several months and many videos later, I find myself grasping the topic more fully and a bit more quickly. I am truly learning and growing from your videos Sabine, and I could not be more grateful! 🙏

[haniamritdas]

I really love how Sabine always sounds as though she is debunking a theory, no matter whether it's something she agrees with or not. This is a truly authentic perspective for a scientist, I think. Kudos for consistent skepticism! 🙏❤️

[luiggiphilipi]

Again a HUGE thanks to Sabine and the channel's crew. what an awesome channel.

What's being amazing to me, is once i get to know of some "scientific" news, I always "judge" that by my previous knowledge, and very often I disagree on something, but I don't know a scientist to talk to and clarify my doubts, but watching your videos either bring the knowledge I was missing, or agrees with my toughts on the topic, wich is really awesome for me, as I'm just a very curious person and not someone that dedicated my life on such fields.

[FiresideMoon]

Sabine does a great job of keeping it real but understandable

[_N_O_X_O_N_]

Regarding Penroses and Hameroffs Orchestrated Objective Reduction Theory (Orch Or):
- Microtubules are organized different in e.g. unconscious cerebellum compared to conscious parts of the brain (A-Lattice vs B-Lattice Microtubules)
- Microtubules are special because of the Tubulins, that they are made off. They seem to have special properties prolonging decoherence time
- They are also crucial in explaining how anesthetics work

[fizykaliceum]

I thought that PBS was the best but your channel is even better because you do not avoid problems where physics touches the meaning of human existence. I made videos about consciousnes on my channel and many of them were inspired by your videos.

[andrewkeller]

Superb! An actual physicist with an actual sense of humor… coupled with the ability to speak plainly on advanced concepts, the history involved, and possible theories (from widely accepted ones to some… not so much) in such a way that non physicists like me can easily understand. Thanks!!!

[vonkruel]

The nice thing about interpretations of QM is that you can pick your favorite one & nobody can prove you wrong.

[jkhdabomb]

"Because that's how physicists treat their friends" 😂😂😂 Sabine you're a treasure 😄

So cool to see the consciousness discussion evolving in physics. I think it's most beneficial to be an open minded skeptic here. There's certainly a lot we don't know 😉

[jonigreenwell]

She's a funny lady. Smart as hell, easy to understand, and very enjoyable - because of her sense of humor. Good stuff.

[Sharperthanu]

About the wave function not being a physical wave: If you know about the double slit experiment the wave function leaves physical markings on the photographic film at the back of the double slit experiment.It's not just an abstract concept.

[ponyote]

Sabine Hossenfelder, one of my favourite recurring hallucinations. Glad I keep learning new things!

[nicksdinosforkids]

Sabine I love your efforts to separate the science from the pseudo-science particularly regarding quantum mechanics and entanglement. We need more scientists and educators like yourself!

[mhschmidt]

Sabine, I look forward to your videos every Saturday here in the US. I took physics courses in the mid-60s & early 70s as part of my Undergraduate & then my Graduate education, although I ended up with chemistry degrees. I just wish my profs (some are still part of my life) had been as well spoken, entertaining & understandable as you.

[Blisscent]

This actually made me feel a lot better about existential, nihilistic thoughts that have been keeping me up at night.