Comparison of Orch-OR Hypothesis with the TGD Viewpoint

Abstract

Penrose-Hameroff (P-H) model and its variants such as Diosi-Penrose (D-P) model have been leading candidates for a quantum theory of consciousness. In light of recent experiments and theoretical arguments, the D-P model looks highly implausible. The key problem is energy conservation, which is actually the central problem of general relativity and caused by loss of Poincare invariance. The basic idea of Penrose about quantum gravitational superposition is almost a must but in the framework of general relativity its mathematical realization is not possible. TGD provides an alternative view based on the identification of space-times as 4-surfaces in M⁴ x CP₂ related by M⁸-H duality to 4-surfaces in M⁸. In this approach Poincare invariance is exact. In the TGD framework the hierarchy of Planck constants h_eff = nh₀ includes also gravitational Planck constant h_gr = GMm/v₀ introduced first by Nottale. This makes it possible to realize quantum coherence (in particular, gravitational one ) in arbitrarily long spatial and temporal scales. In this article P-H and P-P models are compared with the TGD point of view. In TGD, the generation of quantum gravitational binding energy liberates energy and provides the basic mechanism of metabolism and a direct connection with quantum biochemistry emerges. The gravitational magnetic bodies (MBs) of Earth and Sun are in an essential role.