Does Consciousness Collapse the Wave Function

1
Does Consciousness Collapse the Wave Function?

• An Objective test of Subjective reduction

Dick Bierman, Quantum-Mind II, March 15-19 2003,
Tucson
2
The Measurement Problem

• Many World solution (Everett)
• Deterministic solution (Bohm, Penrose)
• Non linear Schrodinger equation (GRW)
• Radical dualistic solution (Walker, Stapp)

3
Radical Solution

• . The reduction of the wave packet is a physical
  event which occurs only when there is an
  interaction between the physical measuring
  apparatus and the psyche of some observer..
• from Hall, J., Kim, C., McElroy, and Shimoni, A.
  (1977). Wave-packet reduction as a medium of
  communication. Foundations of Physics 7 (1977),
  759-767.

4
Hall et al experiment
5
Weaknesses in Hall

• Delay between first and second observation
• The dependent variable a conscious verbal report

6
Comparison

• HALL et al
• Delay few microseconds
• Dependent variable verbal report

• REPLICATION
• Delay 1000 msecs
• Dependent variable brain signals

7
Replication set up
Alpha source
GM detector
Pulse amplifier
EEG amplifiers
Trigger-in
delay
Audio-beep
Visual pre-observation for 50 of the events
Observer 2
Computer
Observer 1
8
procedure movie here
9
Results
N200
N160
P100
10
Results split for condition
11
Statistical analyses Peaks
12
RESULTS peak analysis
13
Lateralization
14
Discussion / Conclusion

• Alternative normal explanations
• Sensory Cueing
• Chance / Over-analysis
• Future work
• Manipulate quantum vs classical source