Consciousness and the Collapse of the Wave Function

TL;DR

This paper explores the hypothesis that consciousness may influence quantum wave function collapse by integrating integrated information theory with collapse models, proposing testable theories that are partially supported by existing evidence.

Contribution

It combines a mathematical theory of consciousness with quantum collapse dynamics, developing a framework for testing the role of consciousness in quantum measurement.

Findings

Simple models are falsified by the quantum Zeno effect

More complex models remain empirically viable

Proposes experiments with quantum computers to test the theory

Abstract

Does consciousness collapse the quantum wave function? This idea was taken seriously by John von Neumann and Eugene Wigner but is now widely dismissed. We develop the idea by combining a mathematical theory of consciousness (integrated information theory) with an account of quantum collapse dynamics (continuous spontaneous localization). Simple versions of the theory are falsified by the quantum Zeno effect, but more complex versions remain compatible with empirical evidence. In principle, versions of the theory can be tested by experiments with quantum computers. The upshot is not that consciousness-collapse interpretations are clearly correct, but that there is a research program here worth exploring.