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How Consciousness Creates Reality (by Claus Janew)

In essence, Steven E. Kaufman’s work shows how self-relational Consciousness produces and interacts with reality. But to appreciate the important work done by Kaufman, one needs to read the whole 325 pages of this Focus Issue of JCER covering his work. Our goals with this Focus Issue are: (1) bring broader awareness of Kaufman’s work by scholars and all genuine truth seekers; and (2) promote scholarly discussions of the same through commentaries and responses to commentaries in the future issues of JCER. In so doing, we hope that all of us may benefit in our endeavor to reach higher Consciousness within ourselves and build a genuine Science of Consciousness.

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Relating the Relational-Matrix Model of Reality to Space-Time and Physical Reality (by Steven E. Kaufman)

This article is a continuation of Kaufman’s work previously published in SGJ Vol. 2, No. 3 (2011), in which work the relational-matrix model was developed and described as a dynamic structure composed of existence involved in a defined set of relations with itself. The purpose of this article is to relate the relational-matrix model, as a dynamic structure, to what we apprehend as space-time by demonstrating that certain fundamental behaviors and aspects of physical reality can be explained in the context of the defined set of relations of existence to itself that were previously described as composing the fundamental structure of reality conceptualized as the relational-matrix. Specifically, within the context of the relational-matrix model, we will account for the following aspects of physical reality: (1) the relationship between space and time, including the basis of temporal relativity, as well as the precise nature of time as a function of the dynamic aspect of the spatial structure; (2) the basis of the speed-of-light constant, including why the frequency and wavelength of electromagnetic radiation are inversely related as a function of that constant; (3) the basis of Planck’s constant, including why the energy associated with electromagnetic radiation exists in discrete amounts, or quanta; (4) the nature of gravitation, including why matter and gravitation are always associated and why gravitation is universally attractive; (5) the equivalence of the gravitational and inertial forces; (6) the relationship between electromagnetic radiation and gravitation; and (7) the nature of energy. Using the relational-matrix model to explain these aspects of the behavior of physical reality will establish a conceptual basis for understanding how physical reality extends from the structure of space. By the end of this article, we will also have established a conceptual basis for understanding why nothing can truly be separated from anything else—i.e., why nothing can be said to exist independent of all other things..

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The Quantum Illusion-like Nature of ‘Reality’ & the Buddhist Doctrine of ‘Two Levels of Reality’ Part I: Deconstructing Reality (by Graham P. Smetham)

The Buddhist metaphysical conceptual analysis of the nature of reality has always been founded upon the basis of a rigorous employment of scrupulously coherent conceptual analysis, which is in turn based upon an empirical observation of experience in a manner appropriate to the time, although one major difference between the empirical attitude of Western science and philosophy during the age of science and that of Buddhism was the Buddhist development of rigorous techniques of meditation in order to explore the structure and nature of consciousness. In this paper I will use the Buddhist philosopher Dharmakirti‘s imaginative deconstruction of reality, in the context of quantum theory, to try to answer the question which seems to be posed by quantum theory: Is 'Reality' really real? In our search for the ultimate nature of reality we have to leave behind the 'seeming' appearances of the everyday world, however persuasive the appearance may be, and break through to a more 'ultimate truth' concerning the nature of reality. We shall discover that Dharmakirti's philosophical analysis, alongside other Buddhist insights, which lead to the 'ultimate' realm of 'empty' Mindnature, prefigures modern quantum discoveries.

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Extension of the Physical Realm (by Elemer E. Rosinger): This is a two part paper. The first part, written somewhat earlier, presented standard processes which cannot so easily be accommodated within what are presently considered as physical type realms. The second part further elaborates on that fact. In particular, it is argued that quantum superposition and entanglement may better be understood in extensions of what we usually consider as physical type realms, realms which, as it happens, have so far never been defined precisely enough.

Reissner's Fiber, Quanta & Consciousness (by Lawrence C. Wile): Reissner's fiber, a strategically located, glycoprotein, thread-like structure, consisting of 2-5 nanometer fibrils which runs through the center of the cerebral ventricles and central canal of the spinal cord is a unique site for investigating the interaction between quanta and consciousness. An intriguing possibility is that the degeneration of Reissner's fiber which is typically unconsciously perceived during the period of early separation and individuation of the ego, mirrors the primal origin of our religious and mystic and traditions which witnessed the destruction of the unity of man, God and the cosmos. The "subtle anatomy" from ancient Hindu, Jewish and Chinese mystical traditions, which describes a cosmic energy within a hollow tube in the spine, may not be merely a metaphor for man's quest for God, but a description based on introspection of the degenerating. The emerging fields of quantum biology and epigenetics now offer the possibility of rediscovering lost secrets and reawakening dormant potentials of human consciousness.

Possible Quantum Model of Consciousness Interfaced with a Non-Lipschitz Chaotic Dynamics of Neural Activity (by Elio Conte, Nunzia Santacroce, Antonio Federici): A model of consciousness and conscious experience is introduced. Starting with a non-Lipschitz Chaotic dynamics of neural activity, we propose that the synaptic transmission between adjacent as well as distant neurons should be regulated in brain dynamics through quantum tunneling. Further, based on various studies of different previous authors, we consider the emergence of very large quantum mechanical system representable by an abstract quantum net entirely based on quantum-like entities having in particular the important feature of expressing self-reference similar to what occurs in consciousness. The properties of such quantum-like mind entities are discussed in detail. A quantum-like model of conscious experience is also discussed. It is shown that such quantum mechanical entities are able to arrange themselves alternatively on the basis of the subject story, memory, and pain-pleasure in response to an external stimulus, thus giving the subject the possibility to response to the stimulus on the basis of his emotion as well as cognitive state. Finally, we discuss the possible connections between the quantum-like model introduced in this paper and the chaotic behaviors often identified experimentally in studies on brain dynamics.

Part I of this article contains: Introduction; 1. Non Lipschitz Terminal Dynamics of Single Neuron Activity; and References; 2. Quantum Mechanical Properties of Neuron Dynamics; and 3. A Quantum Model of Consciousness I.

Part II of this article contains: 4. A Quantum Model of Consciousness II; 5. The Quantum Model of Conscious Experience; and References.

The Explosion of Consciousness: TSC Conference Tucson Arizona 2012 (by John K. Grandy): It may be said that TSC conference 2012 was an explosion of consciousness with a wide variety of presentations related to consciousness. The war of the worldviews was an interesting introduction to the conflict between the spiritual and material accounts of consciousness, but in the end there was a sense that more effort should be placed on establishing some common ground. There was a great deal of focus on neurology and NCC. This is likely due to the advances in the field of neuroimaging that allow the localization of brain function and the effects of connectivity. This conference also featured a new marriage between consciousness and fractals. New modalities of consciousness were also seen. There was also interesting research on precognition. In addition, there were many new and exciting topics in the poster presentations which ranged from quantum physics to plant sensitivity to human emotion. So overall, this was a well organized conference with many excellent presentations from many different areas that are moving toward a science of consciousness. Click Here.

A Proposal for Memory Code (by Matti Pitkanen): In an article in the March 8 issue of the journal PLoS Computational Biology, physicists Travis Craddock and Jack Tuszynski of the University of Alberta, and anesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff of the University of Arizona propose a mechanism for encoding synaptic memory in microtubules, major components of the structural cytoskeleton within neurons. The self-explanatory title of the article is "Cytoskeletal Signaling: Is Memory Encoded in Microtubule Lattices by CaMKII Phosphorylation?" Authors propose a memory code based on the representation of bit as the presence or absence of phosphorylation and represent empirical evidence consistent with 6-bit code analogous to genetic code. In this article a different interpretation of findings is proposed. The presence of phosphate is seen as an evidence for negentropic entanglement accompanied by ATP molecule making possible memory recall by sending negative energy signal to geometric past transforming ATP to ADP and thus using single metabolic quantum. Click Here.

Journal of Consciousness Exploration & Research has just published Volume 3 Issue 8 entitled "On Quanta, Consciousness, Creativity, Natural Psychedelic State, Physical Realm & Paranthropology" at http://jcer.com/index.php/jcj/issue/view/27 .

Articles

Possible Quantum Model of Consciousness Interfaced with a Non-Lipschitz Chaotic Dynamics of Neural Activity (Part I)

A Possible Quantum Model of Consciousness Interfaced with a Non-Lipschitz Chaotic Dynamics of Neural Activity (Part II) (by Elio Conte, Nunzia Santacroce, Antonio Federici)

The Creative & Persecuted Minority I: An Artful Look at Science & a Scientific Look at Art (by Iona Miller, Paul Henrickson)

The Creative & Persecuted Minority II: The Nature of the Creative Process (Iona Miller, Paul Henrickson)

A Retrospective Commentary on the Consciousness Mapping of John C. Gowan Part I (by Iona Miller)

A Retrospective Commentary on the Consciousness Mapping of John C. Gowan Part II (by Iona Miller)

Extension of the Physical Realm (by Elemer E. Rosinger)

Reissner's Fiber, Quanta & Consciousness (by Lawrence C. Wile)

Review Article

A Transdisciplinary Look at Paranthropology: An Emerging Field of Exploration (by Iona Miller)


The Nature & Sensitivity of Chaos (by Chris King): In this paper, the nature and sensitivity of chaos will be illustrated. Failure to appreciate the generative nature of chaos has led to it being one of the last scientific frontiers to be discovered, over fifty years after relativity and quantum theory. Far from being the nemesis of order, or the primal ooze in which order is imposed, chaos is genesis of new form. Most complex systems arise from the mutual interaction between chaos and order, through bifurcation. The eternal religious war of light and dark is very much the battle of chaos as the dark ‘force’ and order as the principle of light. http://scigod.com/index.php/sgj/article/view/163

The Way of the Ultimate Tao (by Chris King)

From the beginning both mind and universe exist as paradoxical complements, each discovering its own nature through its complement. That is, the foundation of the mind and of the universe is the Tao. The universe is forever the Tao of Physics, as Capra noted, the paradoxical interplay of wave and particle, and as natural processes gather into the macroscopic world of experience, chaos and order, as the weather, evolution and conscious thought alike attest. For order to attempt to rule over chaos is as futile as for the particle to try to rule over the wave. Any society which attempts to rule by order alone is doomed to catastrophe as the natural process transition becomes frozen into an apocalyptic revolution collapsing the old order. http://scigod.com/index.php/sgj/article/view/164

The Self-Aware Emptiness of the Quantum Universe (by Graham P. Smetham)

Some of Zurek’s remarks seem to indicate that he thinks that his analysis undermines the ‘ultimate evidence’ that the classical world is entangled and dependent upon consciousness. However, a rigorous analysis shows that the opposite is the case; Zurek’s epiontic quantum Darwinian classical universe is ultimately dependent upon consciousness. It would seem that the entire epiontic process of the evolution of reality is geared towards the production of ever greater levels of sentient awareness and the material world is an ‘advertising billboard’ for a realm of solidity amidst the ‘unreal’ ‘dream stuff’ of the quantum realm within which individualized consciousness can grow to fruition. And the reason that the apparent solidity of the apparently material universe comes into being is because the universe is nothing more than an enormous and multitudinous ultimately immaterial epiontic information exchange which takes place within the quantum ‘dream stuff is made of.’ http://scigod.com/index.php/sgj/article/view/165

Various Thoughts on God & Science (by Himangsu S. Pal)

In this essay, I describe my various thoughts on God and Science. God had to create this world in order to overcome His utter loneliness. So He wanted in His creation a conscious life-form (man) with whom He could communicate. It is unbelievable that God can suffer from any uncertainty of knowledge. At deeper level universe is deterministic. My own experience of life (mystical and others) also confirms it. So when God will observe the position of any subatomic particle, He will observe that with His own light. Evil is there not because God has given man free will, but because God is fully free. God is fully free means God has got full freedom to create. This is for those who are very much hurt by the idea that God is neither good nor evil, that He is beyond good and evil. http://scigod.com/index.php/sgj/article/view/166

Hypothesis on the Central Role of Serotonin in Biological and Anthropological Creation (by Massimo Cocchi, Lucio Tonello, Fabio Gabrielli, Daniel Levi, Giancarlo Pantaleoni)

A fascinating hypothesis is made on the central role of serotonin as a guide, as the director of the phenomena that enable the best use of light by the plant world, the growth, the regulation of mood in the complex molecular interactions that characterize the varying levels of consciousness. This hypothesis supports the biological plausibility of the pace of creation written in the genesis by providing biological interpretations of the correspondence of creative steps, from light to man, passing through the vegetable and animal world. http://jcer.com/index.php/jcj/article/view/194

The Ising Model of Spin Interactions as an Oracle of Self-Organized Criticality, Fractal Mode-Locking & Power Law Statistics in Neurodynamics (by Chris King)

This short report highlights properties of fractality and self-organized criticality in the Ising model of ferromagnetism and how these ideas can be applied using wavelet transforms to comparisons with the study of self-organized criticality in neurodynamics. Matlab programs are provided to freely replicate the results. http://jcer.com/index.php/jcj/article/view/195

Sensory Transduction and Subjective Experience: Expression of eight genes in three senses suggests a radical model of consciousness (by Chris King)

Recent research into whole genome mapping of the mouse brain has made possible direct investigation of the brain expression of unusual genes. A search of the Allen Brain Atlas database has provided genetic and neuro-anatomical evidence for widespread specific expression in the brain of eight genes specific to sensory transduction, in vision, hearing and touch. A novel biophysical model is proposed for the function of these proteins, in generating the internal model of experiential reality. http://jcer.com/index.php/jcj/article/view/196

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