2002/07/01 by Richard A. Mould, Mould, Richard A. · 2 citations
Physics and Astronomy · Psychology · #Academic and Historical Perspectives in Psychology #FOS: Physical sciences #Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #Quantum Physics (quant-ph) #quant-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.quant-ph/0207005
11 pages, 2 figures, v2. add footnote #2, v3. - v6. reword rules, stylistic changes
openalex publication_date 2002/07/01 · arxiv created 2003/07/10 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
This paper elaborates on four previously proposed rules of engagement between conscious states and physiological states. A new rule is proposed that applies to a continuous model of conscious brain states that cannot precisely resolve eigenvalues. If two apparatus states are in superposition, and if their eigenvalues are so close together that they cannot be consciously resolved on this model, then it is shown that observation will not generally reduce the superposition to just one of its member eigenstates. In general, the observation of a quantum mechanical superposition results in another superposition. Key words: Brain states, consciousness, conscious observer, macroscopic superposition, measurement, state reduction, state collapse, von Neumann.