Quantum Theory of Consciousness

Both consciousness and quantum phenomenon are subjective and indeterministic. In this paper, we propose consciousness is a quantum phenomenon. A quantum theory of consciousness (QTOC) is presented based on a new interpretation of quantum physics. We show that this QTOC can address the mind and body problem, the hard problem of consciousness. It also provides a physics foundation and mathematical formulation to study consciousness and neural network. We demonstrate how to apply it to develop and extend various models of consciousness. We show the predictions from this theory about the existence of a universal quantum vibrational field and the large-scale, nearly instantaneous synchrony of brainwaves among different parts of brain, body, people, and objects. The correlation between Schumann Resonances and some brainwaves is explained. Recent progress in quantum information theory, especially regarding quantum entanglement and quantum error correction code, is applied to study memory and shed new light in neuroscience.

Cognitive Neurobiology of Consciousness and Memory during Anesthesia Awareness—Scientific Possibilities and Clinical Implications

The condition of pharmacologically induced unconsciousness that renders a patient unresponsive to uncomfortable surgical stimuli is known as general anesthesia. When it is used for surgery, a fairly rare but traumatizing state known as anesthesia awareness might develop. What is the probability that a patient can be awake, conscious, and able to hear the surroundings and experience excruciating pain but be immobilized to communicate it during surgery? According to estimates, there are 1 to 2 cases for every 1000 patients who experience this phenomenon and retain various sensory information after general anesthesia was applied. Even with seemingly effective anesthetic care, emerging consciousness states during anesthesia are reported and often come with various degrees of memory loss mechanisms. Some researchers and the experiments covered in this paper suggest anesthesia is merely a memory loss or poorly understood neurological form of amnesia induced during the event itself and not a loss of consciousness per se during the traumatic event, as suggested by studies described in this article. In some instances, the agony may be unbearable, with long-term neuropsychiatric effects such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Although the neurobiological phenomenon of consciousness regained during anesthesia is still poorly understood, these continuously reported events carry significant medical and legal ramifications. The numerous contributing elements that may increase the risk of intraoperative raised levels of consciousness are gathered, analyzed, and discussed in this research study. Preventive methods for both preinduction and intraoperative usage, as well as corrective actions to take after such occurrences, are also discussed.

Sister Bernardette Moriau’s “Spontaneous” Healing: Some Perspectives of the Psychology of Consciousness

This article aims to approach the“spontaneous healing”of Sister Bernardette Moriau from the view point of transpersonal psychology or psychology of consciousness and also to compare it with the“spiritual awakening”of the philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti.Thus,within this scope of investigation,this article will refer to the so-called“modified states of consciousness”characteristic of these transcendental experiences,which are promoted by prayer and meditation,leading to“heat release”and“muscle relaxation”.These two cases of studies are part of the so-called“manifestations of the sacred”in the reality of contemporary society,which are studied by the Transcendence Neurology.This might contribute to a deeper knowledge of the role and place of ourselves in the Universe.

Effect of acoustic stimuli in patients with disorders of consciousness: a quantitative electroencephalography study

Auditory stimuli are proposed as beneficial neurorehabilitation methods in patients with disorders of consciousness. However, precise and accurate quantitative indices to estimate their potential effect remain scarce. Fourteen patients were recruited from the Neuro-Rehabilitation Unit of Hangzhou Hospital of Zhejiang Armed Police Corps of China. Altogether, there were seven cases of unresponsive wakefulness syndrome（five males and two females, aged 45.7 ± 16.8 years） and seven cases of minimally conscious state（six males and one female, aged 42.3 ± 20.8 years）. Simultaneously, fourteen healthy controls（10 males and 4 females, aged 51.7 ± 9.7 years） also participated in this case-control experiment. Brain response to music, subjects＇ own name, and noise was monitored by quantitative electroencephalography（QEEG） in the resting state and with acoustic stimulation. Predictive QEEG values in various brain regions were investigated. Our results show that cerebral activation was high in subjects stimulated by their own name, especially in the temporal lobe in patients with disorders of consciousness, and the frontal lobe in the control group. Further, during resting and stimulation, QEEG index（δ ＋ θ/α ＋ β ratio） negatively correlated with the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised score in traumatic disorders of consciousness patients. Hence, we speculate that a subject＇s own name might be an effective awakening therapy for patients with disorders of consciousness. Moreover, QEEG index in specific stimulation states may be used as a prognostic indicator for disorders of consciousness patients（sensitivity, 75%; specificity, 50%）.

Positive effects of music therapist's selected auditory stimulation on the autonomic nervous system of patients with disorder of consciousness: a randomized controlled trial

The current randomized controlled trial was performed at the China Rehabilitation Science Institute, China to test the hypothesis that musical auditory stimulation has positive effects on the autonomic nervous system of patients with disorder of consciousness.Although past studies have recommended that patients with disorder of consciousness listen to patient-preferred music, this practice is not universally accepted by researchers.Twenty patients with severe disorder of consciousness listened to either therapist-selected(n = 10, 6 males and 4 females;43.33 ± 18.76 years old) or patient-preferred(n = 10, 5 males and 5 females, 48.83 ± 18.79 years old) musical therapy, 30 minutes/day, 5 times/week for 6 weeks.The results showed no obvious differences in heart rate variability-related parameters including heart rate, standard deviation of normal-to-normal R-R intervals, and the root-mean-square of successive heartbeat interval differences of successive heartbeat intervals between the two groups of patients.However, percentage of differences exceeding 50 ms between adjacent normal number of intervals, low-frequency power/high-frequency power, high-frequency power norm, low-frequency power norm, and total power were higher in patients receiving therapist-selected music than in patients receiving their own preferred music.In contrast, this relationship was reversed for the high-frequency power and very-low-frequency band.These results suggest that compared with preferred musical stimulation, therapist-selected musical stimulation resulted in higher interactive activity of the autonomic nervous system.Therefore, therapist-selected musical stimulation should be used to arouse the autonomic nervous system of patients with disorder of consciousness.This study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of China Rehabilitation Research Center, China(approval No.2018-022-1) on March 12, 2018 and registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry(registration number Chi CTR1800017809) on August 15, 2018.

Recovery from prolonged disorders of consciousness:A dual-center prospective cohort study in China

BACKGROUND Recent innovations in intensive care have improved the prognosis of patients with severe brain injuries and brought more patients with disorders of consciousness(DoC).Data are lacking regarding the long-term outcomes of those patients in China.It is necessary to study the long-term outcomes of patients with prolonged DoC in light of many factors likely to influence crucial decisions about their care and their life.AIM To present the preliminary results of a DoC cohort.METHODS This was a two-center prospective cohort study of inpatients with vegetative state(VS)/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome(UWS).The study outcomes were the recovery from VS/UWS to minimally conscious state(MCS)and the long-term status of patients with prolonged DoC considered in VS/UWS or MCS for up to 6 years.The patients were evaluated using the Glasgow coma scale,coma recovery scale-revised,and Glasgow outcome scale.The endpoint of follow-up was recovery of full consciousness or death.The changes in the primary clinical outcome improvement in clinical diagnosis were evaluated at 12 mo compared with baseline.RESULTS The study population included 93 patients(62 VS/UWS and 31 MCS).The postinjury interval range was 28-634 d.Median follow-up was 20 mo(interquartile range,12-37 mo).At the endpoint,33 transitioned to an emergence from MCS or full consciousness,eight had a locked-in syndrome,and there were 35 patients remaining in a VS/UWS and 11 in an MCS.Seven(including one locked-in syndrome)patients(7.5%)died within 12 mo of injury.Compared with the unresponsive group(n=52)at 12 mo,the responsive group(n=41)had a higher proportion of males(87.8%vs 63.5%,P=0.008),shorter time from injury(median,40.0 d vs 65.5 d,P=0.006),higher frequency of vascular etiology(68.3%vs 38.5%,P=0.007),higher Glasgow coma scale score at admission(median,9 vs 6,P<0.001),higher coma recovery scale-revised score at admission(median,9 vs 2.5,P<0.001),at 1 mo(median,14 vs 5,P<0.001),and at 3 mo(median,20 vs 6,P<0.001),lower frequency of VS/UWS(36.6%vs 90.0%,P<0.001),and more favorable Glasgow outcome scale outcome(P<0.001).CONCLUSION Patients with severe DoC,despite having strong predictors of poor prognosis,might recover consciousness after a prolonged time of rehabilitation.An accurate initial diagnosis of patients with DoC is critical for predicting outcome and a long-term regular follow-up is also important.

Information： From Philosophic to Physics Concepts for Informational Modeling of Consciousness

Information was a frequently used concept in many fields of investigation. However, this concept is still not really understood, when it is referred for instance to consciousness and its informational structure. In this paper it is followed the concept of information from philosophical to physics perspective, showing especially how this concept could be extended to matter in general and to the living in particular, as a result of the intimate interaction between matter and information, the human body appearing as a bipolar informed-matter structure. It is detailed on this way how this concept could be referred to consciousness, and an informational modeling of consciousness as an informational system of the human body is presented. Based on the anatomic architecture of the organism and on the inference of the specific information concepts, it is shown that the informational system of the human body could be described by seven informational subsystems, which are reflected in consciousness as corresponding cognitive centers. These results are able to explain the main properties of consciousness, both the cognitive and extra-cognitive properties of the mind, like that observed during the near-death experiences and other similar phenomena. Moreover, the results of such a modeling are compared with the existing empirical concepts and models on the energetic architecture of the organism, showing their relevance for the understanding of consciousness.

Non-invasive EEG-based brain-computer interfaces in patients with disorders of consciousness

Disorders of consciousness(DoCs) are chronic conditions resulting usually from severe neurological deficits. The limitations of the existing diagnosis systems and methodologies cause a need for additional tools for relevant patients with DoCs assessment, including brain-computer interfaces(BCIs). Recent progress in BCIs' clinical applications may offer important breakthroughs in the diagnosis and therapy of patients with DoCs. Thus the clinical significance of BCI applications in the diagnosis of patients with DoCs is hard to overestimate. One of them may be brain-computer interfaces. The aim of this study is to evaluate possibility of non-invasive EEG-based brain-computer interfaces in diagnosis of patients with DOCs in post-acute and long-term care institutions.

Neuronal activation by acupuncture at Yongquan(KI1) and sham acupoints in patients with disorder of consciousness: a positron emission tomography study

Disorder of consciousness （DOC） is one of the most serious sequelae of brain injury, and is challenging for neurologists and rehabilitation special- ists to manage because of its refractory nature （Whyte et al., 2013）. Acu- puncture is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that is often used to help improve the level of consciousness in patients with DOC. However, the responses to stimulation of acupoints in patients with DOC are not fully understood.

Spin-Boson and Spin-Fermion Topological Model of Consciousness

The authors propose a new approach to the theory of spin-boson and spin-fermion topological model of consciousness. The authors will offer a common mechanism of spin-boson and spin-fermion topological model of consciousness.

Understanding Stream of Consciousness in To the Lighthouse

The paper aims to make the abstract and even profound writing techniques of stream -of -consciousness concrete and easy -understanding as well as to demonstrate its functions in novel writing with illustration of the famous work To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf who successfully employs this writing technique. The writing techniques involved are indirect interior monologue montage, free association and multiple -point -of view. The application of these approaches attributes greatly to better exposing t...

The Cartesian Bridge: On the Psychology of Consciousness and the Psychopathology of Addiction and Schizophrenia

This paper considers psychometry and the psychochemistry of the biogenic amines as instruments for exploring the psychology of consciousness and, thereby, rational treatment of disorders such as addiction. A hypothesis on the nature of schizophrenia follows as a corollary.

The Guidance and Meaning directed by the Three Phases of Memory on the Reading of Literature Works Written by the Style of Stream of Consciousness ——taking the Work Hear the Wind Sing by Haruki Murakami as an Example

Recently, the researchers put their attention on the literature works on Virginia Woolf or James Joyce too heavily just because the skill of stream of consciousness is used through the novel completely. Choosing this novel by Japanese writer as an example is an experiment, because the stream of consciousness as a composing method has melted its impression into the modem novel. And in the researcher＇s opinion, regardless the traditional part, the researching focus should be shifted on the works written by nowadays writer. To begin this paper, there are four questions should be solved： First, the definition of stream of consciousness should be known clearly; another question is the structure analysis of structure of Hear the Wind Sing; secondly, compared with the mental space theory and blending theory by Fauconnier, how to judge the function of Three Phases of memory＇s direction on reading should be focused on; thirdly, the reason why readers meet the problem of barrier when they read the stream of consciousness novel, and how the memory helps to solve the problem should be study in this section. Fourth, the extra factors which support the function of memory will enhance the skill of reading the SOC novel and finally foreground the meaning.

Analysis The Manifestation of The Stream of Consciousness Technique in The Novel Death of A Salesman

Death of A Salesman is the representative works,of the famous American playwright Arthur Miller(Arthur Miller,1915-2005).It is one of the most influential drama scripts in the history of American.This paper analyzes the performance of stream of consciousness,based on the stream of consciousness by way of analysis,layer by layer to reveal the theme of performance and realism in the novel Death of A Salesman,and deepen the meaning the author wants to express in the aspect of the art effect.

Clinical Decision on Disorders of Consciousness After Acquired Brain Injury:Stepping Forward

Major advances have been made over the past few decades in identifying and managing disorders of consciousness(DOC)in patients with acquired brain injury(ABI),bringing the transformation from a conceptualized definition to a complex clinical scenario worthy of scientific exploration.Given the continuously-evolving framework of precision medicine that integrates valuable behavioral assessment tools,sophisticated neuroimaging,and electrophysiological techniques,a considerably higher diagnostic accuracy rate of DOC may now be reached.During the treatment of patients with DOC,a variety of intervention methods are available,including amantadine and transcranial direct current stimulation,which have both provided class II evidence,zolpidem,which is also of high quality,and non-invasive stimulation,which appears to be more encouraging than pharmacological therapy.However,heterogeneity is profoundly ingrained in study designs,and only rare schemes have been recommended by authoritative institutions.There is still a lack of an effective clinical protocol for managing patients with DOC following ABI.To advance future clinical studies on DOC,we present a comprehensive review of the progress in clinical identification and management as well as some challenges in the pathophysiology of DOC.We propose a preliminary clinical decision protocol,which could serve as an ideal reference tool for many medical institutions.

In vivo imaging reveals a synchronized correlation among neurotransmitter dynamics during propofol and sevoflurane anesthesia

General anesthesia is widely applied in clinical practice.However,the precise mechanism of loss of consciousness induced by general anesthetics remains unknown.Here,we measured the dynamics of five neurotransmitters,includingγ-aminobutyric acid,glutamate,norepinephrine,acetylcholine,and dopamine,in the medial prefrontal cortex and primary visual cortex of C57BL/6 mice through in vivo fiber photometry and genetically encoded neurotransmitter sensors under anesthesia to reveal the mechanism of general anesthesia from a neurotransmitter perspective.Results revealed that the concentrations of γ-aminobutyric acid,glutamate,norepinephrine,and acetylcholine increased in the cortex during propofol-induced loss of consciousness.Dopamine levels did not change following the hypnotic dose of propofol but increased significantly following surgical doses of propofol anesthesia.Notably,the concentrations of the five neurotransmitters generally decreased during sevoflurane-induced loss of consciousness.Furthermore,the neurotransmitter dynamic networks were not synchronized in the non-anesthesia groups but were highly synchronized in the anesthetic groups.These findings suggest that neurotransmitter dynamic network synchronization may cause anesthetic-induced loss of consciousness.

Survey study of the etiology of non-traumatic altered consciousness in the Emergency Department at Suez Canal University Hospital in Egypt

BACKGROUND Disorders of consciousness including coma in non-trauma patients can be caused by a wide variety of pathologies affecting the central nervous system.They represent a frequent challenge in emergency medicine and are combined with a very high in-hospital mortality.Hence,early treatment of these patients is vital and increases the likelihood of a good outcome.AIM To identify the causes of altered consciousness presentation to the Emergency Department at Suez Canal University Hospital.METHODS This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted on 87 patients with acute non-traumatic disturbed level of consciousness(DLOC)at the Emergency Department.RESULTS The mean age of the studied patients was 60.5±13.6 years.Among them,60%were males and 40%were females.The most common cause of acute non-traumatic DLOC was systemic infection,such as sepsis and septic shock(25.3%),followed by respiratory causes(24.1%)and neurological causes(18.4%).CONCLUSION The most common cause of acute non-traumatic DLOC was systemic infections followed by respiratory and neurological causes.

OVERT MANIFESTATIONS OF CONSCIOUSNESS OF TARGET LANGUAGE FORMS IN OUTPUT PROCESSING

Ever since Schmidt proposed the noticing hypothesis in 1990, the role of consciousness in second language input and output processing has attracted increasing attention from various researchers. In many studies, whether or not consciousness is used is deemed as an important factor leading to changes in language learners performance. Current research procedures on measuring consciousness in second language acquisition field are not very satisfactory. The present study, by making use of Levelt s L1 speech pr...

Comparison of the ability of wavelet index and bispectral index for reflecting regain of consciousness in patients undergone surgery

Background Wavelet index （WLI） is a new parameter for monitoring depth of anesthesia based on Wavelet analysis. We observed the change of WLI and bispectral index （BIS） in patients regain of consciousness （ROC） in the absence of frontalis electromyographic （EMG） interference. The aim of this study was to compare the ability of WLI and BIS for reflecting ROC in patients undergone surgery. Methods Twelve patients who were scheduled for maxillofacial surgeries were enrolled in the study. BIS and WLI values were monitored continually. After being given midazolam and remifentanil, patients were asked to squeeze the investigator＇s hand ever 30 seconds. Patients were continuously given propofol until loss of consciousness （LOC1）. Tunstalrs isolated forearm technique was used to test the surgical consciousness in patients. After total muscle relaxation endotracheal intubations were performed, and the patients were connected to a ventilator. Then, propofol was withdrawn until the patients showed regain of consciousness （ROC1） and an awareness reaction. After the command test, patients were readministered with propofol until loss of consciousness （LOC2）. After surgery, all of the sedatives were withdrawn, and the patients were let to regain consciousness （ROC2）, Results The BIS values of twelve patients at ROC1 after using muscle relaxant were much lower than those at LOC1 and ROC2 without using muscle relaxant, showing statistical significance （P 〈0.05）. Meanwhile, the WLI values of twelve patients at ROC1 after using muscle relaxant were much higher than those at LOC1 and equal to ROC2 without using muscle relaxant, showing statistical significances （P 〈0.05） between ROC1 and LOCI. Conclusions This study showed that under muscle relaxation or facial paralysis, when there is no EMG signal, BIS can not accurately reflect regain of consciousness in surgical patients, but WLI can reflect it accurately. So WLI may have advantages for reflecting state of consciousness in surgical patients.

Current Status of Neuromodulatory Therapies for Disorders of Consciousness

Treatment for disorders of consciousness （DOCs） is still a Gordian knot. Evidence-based guidelines on the treatment of DOC patients are not currently available, while neuromodulation techniques are seen as a potential treatment. Multiple neuromodulation therapies have been applied. This article reviews the most relevant studies in the literature in order to describe a clear picture of the current state of neuromodulation therapies that could be used to treat DOC patients. Both invasive and noninvasive brain stimulation is discussed. Significant behavioral improvements in prolonged DOCs under neuromodulation therapies are rare. The efficacy of various such therapies remains a matter of debate. Further clinical investigations of existing techniques in larger samples properly controlling for spontaneous recovery are needed, and new approaches are awaited.