Stuart Hameroff: Is the Human Brain a Quantum Computer? (#353)

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating

Brian Keating

Science, Physics, Natural Sciences

4.7 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 2 October 2023

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Is the human brain a quantum computer? What is the Orch OR model of consciousness? And is there an afterlife for our quantum souls? Here today to answer these questions and take us on a wild tour through consciousness, imagination, and the human brain is Dr. Stuart Hameroff! Stuart is a professor of anesthesiology and psychology at the University of Arizona and director of The Center for Consciousness Studies. In this interview, we dive deep into Stuart’s research and his passion for everything consciousness, so make sure to check it out! Key Takeaways: Intro (00:00) Judging the symposium by its cover (02:06) The Orch OR theory (06:44) The problem of free will (10:14) Elaborating on the Orch OR theory (13:00) How does anesthesia actually work? (26:23) Stuart’s interest in quantum physics (30:10) Artificial intelligence and brain organoids (33:55) AI, Neuralink, and other brain-computer interfaces (38:02) Audience questions (42:54) Outro (55:53) — Additional resources: 🥗 Thanks, HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/50impossible and use code 50impossible for 50% off plus 15% off the next 2 months. 📝 With a MasterClass annual membership, you can take one-on-one classes from the world’s best for $10 a month with your annual membership, get unlimited access to every class — and even better, right now, as an Into The Impossible listener, you can get 15% off when you go to MASTERCLASS.com/impossible. 🧑‍💻 Visit LinkedIn.com/IMPOSSIBLE to post your job for free! 🎤 Join me and ⁦Lawrence Krauss for an Onstage Dialogue ⁦at the San Diego Air & Space Museum Tuesday, Oct 17, 2023 at 7:00 PM: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/live-onstage-dialogue-brian-keating-lawrence-m-krauss-tickets-699430514497 ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/mailing_list ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/blog.php 🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast — Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to follow so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	I think music is probably a better metaphor at least for consciousness that is computation.
0:04.3	Dr. Stuart Hammeroff is a professor of anesthesiology and psychology at the University of Arizona.
0:10.1	He's best known for his work on quantum consciousness, a theory he's co-created with Sir Roger Penrose.
0:16.0	Does neuroscience need a revolution to understand consciousness?
0:20.0	And I believe it does.
0:21.0	It's also a theory that's been highly disputed by the scientific
0:24.3	community does our brain really operate like a supercomputer or is it actually more like a
0:29.7	quantum orchestra? I think you need microtubules and I think you need these coherent vibrations.
0:35.9	Tune in for more about the true nature of consciousness. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
0:47.0	Open the pod bay doors, how?
0:53.0	Welcome everybody to what promises to be a wild tour through consciousness, imagination,
1:00.0	and the human brain, a sample of which I brought here for today's renowned guest.
1:07.0	My friend, second time appearance on the Into the Impossible Podcast, it's Professor, Dr. Stewart Hammeroff, the and the director of the Center for Consciousness Studies,
1:24.6	where there were plans for the last year
1:27.6	because I get these emails every year.
1:29.3	And I spoke many years ago at this conference
1:31.9	when it was last in San Diego and they just had a
1:34.5	phenomenal conference held up in Encinitis I guess at the for the Center for
1:39.6	Consciousness featuring our good old friend Sir Roger Penrose who's coming up on 93 I think next week I think you just
1:45.8	I know he just turned 93 yeah that's right Stuart how are you very well Brian. It's good to see again
1:50.4	Great to see yeah I'm glad you came get to escape the heat and come into the kitchen here in San Diego. I'm what you call
1:55.8	as Zoni in this part of the country. That's what we do call you. We see, but you usually leave around Labor Day, so that's nice. So we get our we get our beaches back. I get the hint.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Brian Keating, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Brian Keating and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.