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From: rv@tahoe.cs.brown.edu (rodrigo vanegas)
Subject: Re: John Mc Carthy's request re: Penrose
In-Reply-To: sarfatti@ix.netcom.com's message of 26 Oct 1994 22:28:59 GMT
Message-ID: <RV.94Oct26205238@tahoe.cs.brown.edu>
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Date: Thu, 27 Oct 1994 00:52:38 GMT
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In article <38ml7b$s4r@ixnews1.ix.netcom.com> sarfatti@ix.netcom.com (Jack Sarfatti) writes:

   John asked for precise definitions of "consciousness" by Penrose
   in his new book Shadows of the Mind. I already gave a few in the
   above posts. Here is a repost of a good one that is relatively
   "precise" and in principle Popper testable:

   "... consciousness would be some manifestation of this quantum-
   entangled internal cytoskeletal state and of its involvement in the 
   interplay (OR) between quantum and classical levels of activity.  
   The computer-like classically interconnected system of neurons 
   would be continually influenced by this cytoskeletal activity, as 
   the manifestation of whatever it is that we refer to as 'free 
   will'.  The role of neurons, in this picture, is perhaps more like 
   a magnifying device in which the smaller-scale cytoskeletal action 
   is transferred to something which can influence other organs of the 
   body - such as muscles."  p.376

This is the pineal gland of the 90s if i ever heard it.

-- 
rodrigo vanegas
rv@cs.brown.edu
