1992/12/01 by F. Beck, J. C. Eccles · 393 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Neuroscience · Psychology · #Biology #Cerebral cortex #Consciousness #Exocytosis #Fractal and DNA sequence analysis #Neural dynamics and brain function #Neuroscience #Photoreceptor and optogenetics research #Physics #Psychology #Quantum #Quantum mechanics
paper · doi:10.1073/pnas.89.23.11357
published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 89(23), 11357-11361 (National Academy of Sciences)
openalex publication_date 1992/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25
The relationship of brain activity to conscious intentions is considered on the basis of the functional microstructure of the cerebral cortex. Each incoming nerve impulse causes the emission of transmitter molecules by the process of exocytosis. Since exocytosis is a quantal phenomenon of the presynaptic vesicular grid with a probability much less than 1, we present a quantum mechanical model for it based on a tunneling process of the trigger mechanism. Consciousness manifests itself in mental intentions. The consequent voluntary actions become effective by momentary increases of the probability of vesicular emission in the thousands of synapses on each pyramidal cell by quantal selection.