CONSCIOUSNESS

4. Physical and Biological Sciences 155
219 Self Observing Quantum System Models of Body, Mind and Soul Alex Hankey,
HR Nagendra PhD (Yoga & Physical Science, SVYASA,
Vivekananda Yoga University, Bangalore, Karnataka India)
This paper concerns a highly sophisticated quantum model of how consciousness and
matter interact, constructed by applying quantum theory to elementary physical excitations at
Norbert Wiener’s original cybernetic singulariities, When applied to neural nets, particularly
the hierarchical sequence of networks of neurons and cortices found in the human nervous
system, models of Yoga’s fivefold structure of mind and soul can be constructed. These are
also applicable in simplified form to earlier branches on the tree of life. At Tucson 2008, one
of us (AH) presented a theory of mind-body coupling using self-observing quantum systems
(SOQSs), defined at critical feedback instability singularities. The theory provides a compact
physical basis for David Chalmers’s dual aspect information spaces of consciousness, offering
a non-trivial solution to the mind-matter problem. The theory has now been extended in
several directions by establishing many attractive additional properties, notably: (1) The critical
feedback condition agrees with Stuart Kauffman’s accounts of complexity in biological
systems, now experimentally established. (2) In competitive ecosystems, regulatory systems
of biological organisms will, as complex adaptive agents, be driven to develop higher order
critical points, in nested, fractal structures. (3) Neural nets and nervous systems can support
such complex SOQSs. As Jonathan Shear has stated, the resulting models of mind start to
seem realistic. We shall present a version of Yoga’s panchamayokosha model of the human
soul, as a nested structure of SOQSs on neural networks, with the following tentative correspondences:
anandamayokosha and neocortex, vijnanamayokosha and palaeocortex, manomayokosha
and visceral nervous system, pranamayokosha and the (pranic) energy body, the
annamayokosha and genetic networks and their cytokine mediated tissue regulation systems.
Such complex, sophisticated models may account for biological, psychological, and spiritual
modalities of human consciousness. Even behaviours of single cells become comprehensible,
e.g., astonishing phenomena recounted by Ford, where amoebae use pseudopoda to construct
waterproof shells from selected materials. They too possess dual aspect information spaces. Is
a valid account of biological ‘mind’ beginning to emerge? P4
220 Mind Field, Active Information, and Zero-Energy Tachyons Syamala Hari
(Edison, NJ)
In an earlier paper it was suggested that mental units called psychons by Eccles could
be zero-energy tachyons. Although experiments to detect faster-than-light particles have not
been successful so far, recently, there has been renewed interest in tachyon theories in various
branches of physics. We suggest that tachyon theory may be applicable to brain physics
as well. The present paper describes how the zero-energy tachyon field (ZETF) has several
features of mind-fields which have been postulated or anticipated by some well known mindmatter
researchers. Some features of ZETF are as follows: (1) ZETF contributes to the active
information (defined by Bohm and Hiley), which acts on Schrodinger particles. Like the
Conscious Mental Field proposed by Libet, ZETF could act on certain neural activities that
take place in willed actions. (Specifically, its role in exocytosis is described in this paper.) (2)
ZETF maintains conservation of energy while interacting with the particles. (3) It changes the
probability density of finding the particles in a given state. (4) It generates the back-action
term in the continuity equation of the particles. (Back-action is considered by Sarfatti to be
a necessary condition for describing any form of living matter using quantum theory.) (5) It
can account for the unity of a subjective experience, because ZETF is strictly non-local and
can be produced/absorbed/detected only by multitudes of nerve cells rather than a single one.
(6) ZETF is associated with electromagnetic scalar and vector potentials which generate zero
electric and magnetic fields. Just as electromagnetic potentials cannot be observed directly but
only indirectly through their effects, it is possible that ZETF could not be directly observed
by any external physical device but only indirectly by any effects it introduces on neural
activities. (7) ZETF may be said to be non-material because the mass of a tachyon is purely
imaginary (in our laboratory frames of reference and all physically realizable frames moving
with speeds less than the speed of light). However, ZETF fits well into quantum theory and at