Testing the ORCH OR Theory of Consciousness with Stuart Hameroff

Stuart Hameroff, MD, is a professor of anesthesiology and psychology at the Banner University Medical Center of the University of Arizona in Tucson. He is also co-founder and director of the Center for Consciousness Studies at the University of Arizona. He is author of Ultimate Computing: Biomolecular Consciousness and Nanotechnology. Since 1994, he has organized the “Toward a Science of Consciousness” conferences at the University of Arizona and elsewhere. Working with Sir Roger Penrose, he is the co-author of the Orchestrated Objective Reduction (ORCH OR) theory of consciousness.

Here he describes a current research project designed to potentially falsify the theoretical model he has been developing for the past three decades. It involves measurements of quantum superposition within tubulin molecules when stimulated with laser light. Hameroff predicts that this superposition will be found and that it will be influenced by various anesthesias in direct proportion to their potency. The conversation also explores other heuristic implications of the ORCH OR theory.

New Thinking Allowed host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man. Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series. He is the recipient of the only doctoral diploma in "parapsychology" ever awarded by an accredited university (University of California, Berkeley, 1980).

(Recorded on January 14, 2021)

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[DrVulcanXmX]

After watching hours of interviews and documentaries about Orch/OR I can frankly say Dr.Hameroff has become my "idol". I am a medical doctor as well and trying to teach myself physics to have a better grasp of our universe, Dr.Hameroff is now one of my biggest inspirations. I wish this brilliant man a long and healthy life, along with limitless funds and supporters to perfect his works. And Jeffrey you are a flawless interviewer.

[juliawild]

I recall, several years ago, (1990) suggesting to my biology instructor that mictotubules might play a major role in consciousness...particularly in the realm of psychic phenomena. He looked at me as though I had two heads. Needless to say, I loved this video...utterly fascinating. Thank you.

[Woundstring]

Thanks for again interviewing Stuart Hameroff. I love hearing from both him and Roger Penrose. Great interview as always.

[samthompson]

I have a dream that maybe one day I'll get to meet both Jeffey and Stuart. Two of my absolute favorite minds of all time! thank you for doing this guys!

[kcottone]

What should I follow to receive the first results of the current Orch OR falsification study?

[davidjames]

One Great Interview. Thanks Jeff and Stuart.

[nickfrate]

I've been fascinated with Dr. Hameroff's and Sir Roger Penrose's ORCH OR Theory of Consciousness for awhile now. Wishing them all the success in this significant experiment.

[susanwoodward]

So much information in this fascinating video - will need to re-listen several times. Thanks to you both.

[ThePdeHav]

Fascinating. That the microtubules resonate in the blue/green range might be the reason why the blind report seeing nothing but this hue.

[phillipbernhardt-house]

This is fantastic! I have been very interested in Hameroff and Penrose's ORCH/OR theory since I first heard of it via this channel, and I have been dismayed at how utterly dismissive of it I've seen some people be about it, dismissing it as "pseudoscience" or as unprovable and so forth...so, this will determine where it's at finally, and then so much can be built from there if it is confirmed. Superb! Getting tubulin and some ultrasound to some of my relatives and friends who are suffering with Alzheimer's would be an excellent thing to be able to recommend if this proves to be true, too, amongst many other possibilities!

[TheTalkWatcher]

How does OBE and NDE phenomenon impact on this theory? Many people report OBE while in surgery. I have read some OBE reports where the person accurately reports events occurring in other parts of the hospital while their surgery is occurring. How can consciousness be mechanistic, if these OBE reports during surgery are true?

[marchanson]

I love this work on Orch Or. More please. Thank you.

[nathalierollet]

What an incredible man... fasinating as always. Thank you 🙏🏻

[trippaardema]

It’s been over a year since this video was posted, can somebody link me to the results of the microtubule quantum study?

[sublimetrance]

Did they ever perform this experiment and get any conclusive results?

[jessereiter]

Vibration and beats this is exactly what I expected .all my research has pointed this direction and what has kept me alive and now I will use even more.

[julianjules]

Wow, as physical chemist interested in consciousness and shamanism, this was fascinating.

[jillhumphries]

This channel is a wonderful public service- validates itself and makes up for all the other detritus on you tube

[georgebates]

It's been a year now. Any results to report on the experiment described in the video?

[GiedriusMisiukas]

10:30 have these falsifiability experiments already been done? Or when will they be executed?