Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

Anytime you hear the word "consciousness" in the field of neuroscience, expect a barrage of pseudo-scientific sloppy reasoning to follow.

Even if there are quantum effects involved in the operation of the brain, or any other organ of the body, the idea that they are responsible for this thing called "consciousness" anymore than action potentials or chemical messengers is a gigantic, unsupported assumption.

More likely the words "quantum" and "microtubule vibrations" sounds sufficiently mysterious to appeal to the casual reader's dualist bias. A proper scientific study into "X", whether X be consciousness or anything else, would begin by defining it concretely.



"Consciousness of the gaps", to summarize.




Consider applying for YC's Winter 2026 batch! Applications are open till Nov 10

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: