[saltyfamiliar]

That proportions in that analogy seem way off. Every single neuron of the human brain could be utilizing quantum mechanical effects at the same time. Not very much at all like a kid's sand castle against the world's tides. I don't think anyone really understand "thinking" and quantum mechanics well enough for the mechanisms to be apparent. I mean, squirrels convert forest detritus into general intelligence. I don't understand the strong certainty against the idea that there's some physics based piece of the puzzle that we're missing.

[tsimionescu]

Well, quantum computers are just fast but limited classical computers. So there is nothing actually very interesting to be gained by assuming that the brain could be a quantum computer isntead of a classical computer - at best, it would explain why the brain is more efficient at certain computations, but it can't explain how intelligence works.

To be clear, any quantum computation can be simulated on a classical computer, but it takes exponentially many steps. This is proven mathematically already, with the single exception that it's not proven that a better classical algorithm couldn't remote the exponential difference.

[ralfd]

https://nautil.us/issue/47/consciousness/roger-penrose-on-wh...

[visarga]

> I don't understand the strong certainty against the idea that there's some physics based piece of the puzzle that we're missing.

There is a missing piece of the puzzle all right, it's the huge role the environment and body play in developing intelligence. Everyone's focusing on quantum effects or just the brain forgetting that all they learn comes from the experience of the environment on the body.

The forces that shape and restrict life are the same that guide our learning process and evolution. We're looking too close to the brain and missing the big picture. Embodiment is the thing we're glossing over.

Quantum intelligence or consciousness seems like a detour, a blind walk into mysticism unless someone can prove there are things in neurology and AI that only make sense from a quantum perspective.

[jquery]

I think it’s a strong conjecture that quantum effects at the single neuron level in the brain are significant. Given how evolution has had billions of years to operate and “train” itself, I don’t think it would be surprising to discover quantum-mechanical processes were deeply intertwined with intelligence.

I think there is some definite upside to knowing the ultimate complexity of a single neuron.

Is it a detour? I don’t think we can say for sure either way until the question of how a single neuron works is settled.

[dmingod666]

I have no opinion in either direction, but, I don't think nature discriminates in the usage of its tools based on the current understanding of humans.

[physicsguy]

> Every single neuron of the human brain could be utilizing quantum mechanical effects

Yes, they are, in that neurons are made up of molecules which are held together and bind due to quantum effects. But that's the limit of it.

[mvcalder]

> squirrels convert forest detritus into general intelligence

Could you elaborate on this? Are you referring to a specific research result or waxing poetic?

[katmannthree]

I believe we've been able to model the processes behind neural firings for quite some time now, the issue is more mapping between that micro-scale understanding of how each individual piece in a 10^10 piece puzzle with 10^15 edges affects the macro-scale emergent properties of said puzzle. It's less a lack of understanding of the processes and more a complexity so great that it exceeds the grasp of our best modeling tools thus far.

We can barely model the humble nematode c. elegans with its 330 neurons.

[SubiculumCode]

Our biophysicalmodesl of neurons are actually woefully simplistic. https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/jn.00360.20...

[taneq]

Can we barely model it yet? I thought they weren’t at the point of getting able to simulate any actual work behaviours?