Covariant quantum error correction in a three-layer quantum brain model: computational analysis of layer-specific coherence dynamics

TL;DR

This study evaluates covariant quantum error correction in a three-layer quantum brain model, demonstrating its potential to preserve coherence in certain proteins over behaviorally relevant timescales.

Contribution

It provides a quantitative analysis of CQEC's effectiveness in maintaining quantum coherence in protein-based quantum brain models, highlighting layer-specific tradeoffs.

Findings

CQEC maintains high coherence in CRY protein at realistic veto rates.

Coherence collapses in MAO-A protein under higher decoherence rates.

Layer-protein tradeoffs influence the effectiveness of quantum error correction.

Abstract

Quantum brain proposals require coherence on behaviorally relevant timescales, yet the gap between spin coherence times and neural decision windows has remained a quantitative obstacle. We evaluate approximate covariant quantum error correction (CQEC) -- a purification protocol constrained by the Eastin-Knill theorem -- across two radical-pair proteins parameterized by \textit{ab initio} spin Hamiltonians: monoamine oxidase~A (MAO-A) and cryptochrome (CRY, PDB~4I6G). Both share a three-layer architecture (${}^{31}$P nuclear spin memory, electron spin interface, classical electrochemistry) and identical hyperfine coupling ($A = 200$~MHz), but differ 16-fold in nuclear $T_2$: 3.2~ms (MAO-A) versus 52~ms (CRY). We test whether CQEC preserves coherence over the 200~ms Schultze-Kraft veto window by mapping each protein's $T_2$ gap onto a simulation decoherence rate ($\gamma_\mathrm{veto} = T_2~\text{gap}/2T_\mathrm{sim}$): 3.08 for MAO-A, 0.19 for CRY. At $\gamma_\mathrm{veto} = 0.19$, CQEC maintains tunneling coherence of 0.83 (95\% CI [0.76, 0.79]; versus 0.12 without correction, $\times$6.9 improvement). At $\gamma_\mathrm{veto} = 3.08$, coherence collapses to 0.012 even with CQEC. A $T_2$ sensitivity analysis confirms robustness: at $T_2 = 26$~ms (half the CRY estimate), CQEC-protected coherence remains 0.69. A classical Markov baseline produces only monotonic relaxation, confirming that CQEC-maintained oscillatory dynamics are genuinely quantum. However, no single protein optimizes both layers: CRY's shorter $T_2^e$ (0.53~ns versus 1.1~ns) worsens Layer~2 fidelity. This layer-protein tradeoff, together with unresolved challenges in state preparation and entanglement distribution, defines the next targets for quantum brain research.