Stuart Hameroff, MD, is an anesthesiologist and professor at the University of Arizona known for his promotion of the scientific study of consciousness, and his speculative theories of the "mechanisms" of consciousness. An anesthesiologist (American English), or anaesthetist (British English), is a medical doctor trained to administer anesthesia. ...

His early research suggested to him that part of the solution to the problem of understanding consciousness may lie in understanding the operations of microtubules in brain cells, operations at the molecular and supramolecular level. The operations of microtubules are remarkably complex and their role pervasive in cellular operations; these facts led to the speculation that computation sufficient for consciousness may somehow be occurring there. These ideas are discussed in his first book Ultimate Computing (1987). Further thinking led him to speculate that the role of quantum mechanics, which is the correct theory of matter at the atomic and subatomic level, may have essential ramifications in an explanation of consciousness. This led him to collaborate with mathematical physicist Roger Penrose in developing the 'Orch-OR' (Orchestrated Objective Reduction) model of quantum mechanics, leading to an explanation of quantum coherence occurring within the brain's neural microtubules, which in this theory leads to consciousness and quantum mind. Microtubules are protein structures found within cells, one of the components of the cytoskeleton. ... Supramolecular chemistry refers to the area of chemistry which focuses on the noncovalent bonding interactions of molecules. ... Fig. ... Sir Roger Penrose, OM, FRS (born 8 August 1931) is an English mathematical physicist and Emeritus Rouse Ball Professor of Mathematics at the Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford and Emeritus Fellow of Wadham College. ... Orch OR (“Orchestrated Objective Reduction”) is a theory of consciousness put forth in the mid-1990s by British theoretical physicist Sir Roger Penrose and American anesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff. ... Quantum coherence refers to the condition of a quantum system whose constituents are in-phase. ... Consciousness is a quality of the mind generally regarded to comprise qualities such as subjectivity, self-awareness, sentience, sapience, and the ability to perceive the relationship between oneself and ones environment. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

This work began with Penrose's theory that consciousness must be fundamentally non-algorithmic, and incapable of being modeled as a classical Turing machine type of computer, as was prevalent in the field of Artificial Intelligence at the time. Penrose saw the principles of quantum theory as providing an alternate mechanism for consciousness. Flowcharts are often used to represent algorithms. ... An artistic representation of a Turing Machine . ... // Hondas intelligent humanoid robot AI redirects here. ... Quantum theory is a theory of physics that uses Plancks constant. ...

He was inspired by Penrose's book The Emperor's New Mind (1989) to contact Penrose regarding his own theories about the mechanism of anesthesia and how it specifically targets consciousness via action on neural microtubules. Penrose became interested in the mathematical features of microtubule architecture, and the two collaborated in formulating the Orch-OR theory of consciousness. The Emperors New Mind: Concerning Computers, Minds and The Laws of Physics is a 1989 book by mathematical physicist Roger Penrose. ... Anesthesia or anaesthesia (see spelling differences) has traditionally meant the process of blocking the perception of pain and other sensations. ... Orch OR (“Orchestrated Objective Reduction”) is a theory of consciousness put forth in the mid-1990s by British theoretical physicist Sir Roger Penrose and American anesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff. ...

He was the lead organizer of the first Tucson consciousness meeting in 1994 that brought together approximately 300 people interested in consciousness for the first time (e.g., David Chalmers, Christof Koch, Bernard Baars, Roger Penrose, Benjamin Libet). This conference is widely regarded as a landmark event within the field of consciousness studies, and by bringing researchers from various disciplines together lead to various useful synergies, including for instance indirectly to the formation of the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness, and more directly to the creation of the Center for Consciousness Studies at the University of Arizona, of which he is now the director. The Center for Consciousness Studies hosts meetings on study of consciousness every two years, as well as sponsoring seminars on consciousness theory. David John Chalmers (April 20, 1966 -) is a philosopher in the area of philosophy of mind. ... Christof Koch (born November 13, 1956) is an American neuroscientist. ... Bernard J. Baars is a senior fellow of the Neurosciences Institute in La Jolla, CA. He is best known for his book, A Cognitive Theory of Consciousness (1988) in which he outlines his view of Global Workspace Theory as a model for consciousness. ... Sir Roger Penrose, OM, FRS (born 8 August 1931) is an English mathematical physicist and Emeritus Rouse Ball Professor of Mathematics at the Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford and Emeritus Fellow of Wadham College. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness is a scientific membership organization that aims to encourage research on consciousness in cognitive science, neuroscience, philosophy, and other relevant disciplines in the sciences and humanities, directed toward understanding the nature, function, and underlying mechanisms of consciousness. ... The University of Arizona (UA or U of A) is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. ...

Dr. Hameroff appeared as himself in the documentary film What tнe ♯$*! Do ωΣ (k)πow!? (2004). He also participated in the first Beyond Belief conference, where his theories were sharply criticized by Lawrence Krauss, among others. What the #$*! Do We Know!? (or What the Bleep Do We Know!? , What tHe #$*! DΘ ωΣ (k)Ï€ow!?, or What tHe βLēēΡ DΘ ωΣ (k)Ï€ow!? — Australian version) is a 2004 film that combines both documentary interviews, fiction and animation to allege a connection between science and spirituality. ... Lawrence M. Krauss Lawrence M. Krauss (born May 27, 1954) is Professor of Physics, Professor of Astronomy, and former Chair of the Physics Department at Case Western Reserve University. ...

See also

• Roger Penrose
• Henry Stapp
• Evan Harris Walker
• Consciousness causes collapse
• Mind Science Foundation

Sir Roger Penrose, OM, FRS (born 8 August 1931) is an English mathematical physicist and Emeritus Rouse Ball Professor of Mathematics at the Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford and Emeritus Fellow of Wadham College. ... Henry Stapp is one of the main figures in the modern manifestation of Consciousness Studies. ... Evan Harris Walker is an American physicist. ... Consciousness causes collapse is the theory that observation by a conscious observer is responsible for the wavefunction collapse in quantum mechanics. ... The Mind Science Foundation is a private operating scientific foundation in San Antonio, Texas. ...

Further reading

• Stuart Hameroff with Conrad Schneiker, Ultimate computing: Biomolecular consciousness and nanotechnology, Elsevier-North Holland, 1987. This work predates the quantum Orch-OR hypothesis; still of interest. Online at author's site
• Hameroff, Kaszniak, Scott, (eds), Toward a Science of Consciousness, MIT Press, ISBN 0-262-08249-7, LoC OP411.T68 1996. papers from the first Tucson conference on study of consciousness. Further volumes in the series exist.
• Roger Penrose, Shadows of the Mind: A Search for the Missing Science of Consciousness, Oxford, ISBN 0-19-853978-9, LoC Q335.P416 1994. This discusses the Orch-OR theory.

Molecular gears from a NASA computer simulation. ...

External links

• Hameroff's "Quantum Consciousness" site
• Center for consciousness studies homepage