Quantum dissipation and information: A route to consciousness modeling

Giuseppe Vitiello Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita di Salerno and INFM, Unita di Salerno, 84100 Salerno, Italia vitiello sa!in"n!it # $%is paper is not "or reproduction &it%out permission o" t%e aut%or ABSTRACT In t%e dissipative 'uantum model o" (rain memor) recordin* is modeled as co%erent condensation o" certain 'uanta in t%e (rain *round state! $%e "ormation o" "inite si+e correlated domains allo&s t%e or*ani+ation o" stored in"ormation into %ierarc%ical structures accordin* to t%e di""erent li"e,times o" memories and t%e si+e o" t%e correspondin* domains! $%e openness o" t%e (rain to t%e e-ternal &orld .dissipation/ implies t%e dou(lin* o" t%e (rain s)stem de*rees o" "reedom! $%e s)stem o(tained () dou(lin*, t%e Double, pla)s t%e role o" t%e (at% or environment in &%ic% t%e (rain is permanentl) em(edded! It is su**ested t%at conscious as &ell as unconscious activit) ma) "ind its root in t%e permanent dialogue o" t%e (rain &it% its Dou(le!

Information, Function and Structure

In t%is paper I &ill summari+e t%e main "eatures o" t%e dissipative 'uantum model o" t%e (rain and discuss some aspects o" t%e memor) recordin* process &%ic% seem to %ave implications in t%e stud) o" consciousness! $%e line o" t%ou*%t is t%e one &%ic% I %ave presented in m) (oo0 1M) Dou(le Unveiled1 .Vitiello 2001/ and in a series o" more tec%nical papers! Some o" t%e remar0s I &ill ma0e in t%e "ollo&in* ma) (e o" some interest to pro(lems o" in"ormation processin* and related issues! $%e e-perimental &or0 () 3as%el) in t%e "orties %as s%o&n t%at man) "unctional activities o" t%e (rain cannot (e directl) related to speci"ic neural cells, rat%er t%e) involve e-tended re*ions o" t%e (rain! 4ri(ram5s &or0, con"irmin* and e-tendin* 3as%el) o(servations, (rou*%t %im in t%e si-ties to introduce concepts o" 6uantum 7ptics, suc% as %olo*rap%), in (rain modelin* .4ri(ram 1891: 1881/! $%ese results %ave (een

su(se'uentl) con"irmed () man) ot%er o(servations and it is no& &ell esta(lis%ed t%at neural connectivit), rat%er t%an t%e sin*le neuron cell activit), is o" primar) importance in t%e (rain "unctional development .Green"ield 1889a: 1889(/! $%e description o" t%e o(served non,localit) o" (rain "unctions, especiall) o" memor) storin* and recallin*, &as t%e main *oal o" t%e 'uantum (rain model proposed in t%e 18;9 () <icciardi and Ume+a&a .<icciardi and Ume+a&a 18;9: Stuart et al! 1898: 1898/! $%is model is (ased on t%e 6uantum Field $%eor) .6F$/ o" man) (od) s)stems and its main in*redient is t%e mec%anism o" spontaneous (rea0do&n o" s)mmetr)! In 6F$ spontaneous (rea0do&n o" s)mmetr) occurs &%en t%e d)namical e'uations are invariant under some *roup, sa) G , o" continuous trans"ormations, (ut t%e minimum ener*) state .t%e *round state or vacuum/ o" t%e s)stem is not invariant under t%e "ull *roup G ! =%en t%is occurs, t%e vacuum is an ordered state and massless particles .t%e Nam(u,Goldstone (osons .NG/ also called collective modes/ propa*atin* over t%e &%ole s)stem are dynamically generated and are t%e carriers o" t%e ordering information .lon* ran*e correlations/> order manifests itself as a global, macroscopic property which is dynamically generated at the microscopic quantum level! For e-ample, in "erroma*nets t%e ma*netic order is a di""used, i!e! macroscopic, "eature o" t%e s)stem! In cr)stals t%e atoms are trapped in t%eir sites () e-c%an*in* p%onons, &%ic% are NG 'uanta esta(lis%in* t%e inter,atomic lon* ran*e correlation! 7rderin* in t%e cr)stalline structure, in t%e "erroma*netic one, in t%e superconductive one and in ot%er ordered s)stems is t%us ac%ieved () t%e presence .condensation/ o" t%e collective modes in t%e vacuum state! Since t%e NG collective mode is a massless particle, its condensation in t%e vacuum does not add ener*) to it> t%e sta(ilit) o" t%e orderin* is t%us insured! ?s a "urt%er conse'uence, in"initel) man) vacua &it% di""erent de*rees o" order ma) e-ist, correspondin* to di""erent densities o" t%e condensate! In t%e in"inite volume limit t%e) are eac% ot%er p%)sicall) .unitaril)/ ine'uivalent and t%us t%e) represent possi(le, di""erent p%)sical p%ases o" t%e s)stem> t%is appears as a comple- s)stem e'uipped &it% man) macroscopic con"i*urations! $%e actual p%ase in &%ic% t%e s)stem sits is selected () some e-ternal a*ent amon* t%e man) availa(le minimum ener*) states! In ot%er &ords, suc% an a*ent acts as a tri**er o" t%e spontaneous (rea0do&n o" s)mmetr) process &it% t%e conse'uent condensation in t%e *round state o" t%e NG modes, and in t%is &a) it induces t%e d)namical process o" t%e *round state orderin*! Di""erent e-ternal inputs or a*ents ma) t%us lead to di""erent de*rees o" vacuum orderin*, namel) to di""erent p%ases o" t%e s)stem! $%e order parameter is a measure o" t%ese di""erent de*rees o" *round state orderin*! It is a la(el speci")in* t%e s)stem p%ase! In summar), t%e e-ternal a*ent can (e vie&ed as t%e source o" t%e in"ormation channeled () t%e NG modes in t%e s)stem o" elementar) constituents .t%e receiving

s)stem/! Di""erent e-ternal inputs ma) lead to di""erent orderin*s, or to di""erent de*rees o" orderin* in t%e s)stem> t%e s)stem *ets t%us ordered under t%e action o" t%e e-ternal a*ent! In t%is sense, conventionall) I tal0 o" ordering information! I &ould li0e to stress t%at in 6uantum Mec%anics .6M/ t%e von Neumann t%eorem states t%at t%e spaces o" t%e s)stem states are all unitaril), i!e! p%)sicall), e'uivalent! $%is t%eorem does not %old in 6F$ since t%ere t%e num(er o" t%e de*rees o" "reedom is in"inite and t%us t%ere e-ist in"initel) man) unitaril) ine'uivalent .i!e!, p%)sicall) ine'uivalent/ state spaces! 6M is t%us not ade'uate "or t%e description o" t%e d)namical *eneration o" ordered states "or s)stems &it% man) di""erent p%ases! 7ne needs 6F$! In t%e case o" open s)stems, i!e! s)stems interactin* &it% t%e environment and t%ere"ore possi(l) su(@ected to e-ternal actions, transitions amon* ine'uivalent vacua ma) occur .phase transitions/! Dissipation, namel) t%e ener*etic e-c%an*e &it% t%e environment, leads t%us to a picture o" t%e s)stem 1livin* over man) *round states1 .continuousl) under*oin* p%ase transitions/ .Del Giudice et al 1888c/! Note t%at even ver) &ea0 .alt%ou*% a(ove a certain t%res%old/ pertur(ations ma) drive t%e s)stem t%rou*% its macroscopic con"i*urations .Aele*%ini et al 1880/> .random/ &ea0 pertur(ations t%us pla) an important role in t%e comple- macroscopic (e%avior o" t%e s)stem! $%e o(serva(le 'uantit) speci")in* t%e ordered state, called order parameter, acts as a macroscopic varia(le since t%e collective modes present a co%erent d)namical (e%avior! $%e order parameter is speci"ic o" t%e 0ind o" s)mmetr) into pla)! $%e value o" t%e order parameter is related &it% t%e densit) o" condensed NG (osons in t%e vacuum and speci"ies t%e p%ase o" t%e s)stem &it% relation to t%e considered s)mmetr)! Since p%)sical properties are di""erent "or di""erent p%ases, t%e value o" t%e order parameter ma) (e considered as a code speci")in* t%e s)stem state! ?ll o" t%is is a &ell 0no&n stor) and t%e conclusion is t%at sta(le lon* ran*e correlations and di""use, non,local properties related &it% a code speci")in* t%e s)stem state are dynamical "eatures o" quantum ori*in! $%ese "eatures su**ested to <icciardi and Ume+a&a t%at a 6F$ model o" t%e (rain (ased on t%e mec%anism o" spontaneous (rea0do&n o" s)mmetr) could (e "ormulated in a suc% a &a) to account "or t%e o(served di""used c%aracter o" t%e (rain "unctions! I remar0 t%at t%ere is an identification in t%e 6F$ o" ordered s)stems amon* information, function and structure! Aonsider, e!*!, t%e cr)stal! $%e particles it is made o" are not onl) t%e atoms sittin* in t%eir lattice sites, (ut also t%e p%onons! $%ese are real particles livin* in t%e cr)stal &%ic% can (e o(served "or e-ample () t%e scatterin* &it% neutrons! Bo&ever, i" t%e cr)stal is destro)ed, e!*! () meltin* it at %i*% temperature or () actin* &it% some mec%anical a*ent, t%e p%onons are not "ound amon* t%e le"t out particles

.t%e atoms/> t%e p%onons live as lon* as t%e cr)stal e-ists, t%e) are indeed dynamically generated in t%e process o" s)mmetr) (rea0do&n, as said a(ove! $%e) are t%e 'uanta o" t%e lon* ran*e correlation orderin* o" t%e atoms in t%e lattice sites! $%us t%e s)stem function o" (ein* a cr)stal cannot (e separated "rom t%e p%onon structure! $%ere is no cr)stal &it%out p%onons, and vice,versa! Similarl), t%e p%onons are t%e carriers o" t%e ordering information over t%e &%ole s)stem! =it%out p%onons t%e atoms &ould not know i" and in &%ic% lattice site to sit, t%e) &ould not (e trapped in t%eir sites () exchanging p%onons! $%e information a(out t%e cr)stal lattice is t%us intrinsic, not detachable "rom t%e cr)stal structure, and t%ere"ore it cannot (e separated, made distinct "rom t%e cr)stal "unction! In"ormation, "unction and structure are t%e same t%in*! ?nd t%is identi"ication %as a dynamical origin!

The arl! Quantum "odel of Brain

In t%e 'uantum model, t%e (rain elementar) constituents are not t%e neurons and t%e ot%er cells .&%ic% cannot (e considered as 'uantum o(@ects/, (ut, in analo*) &it% t%e 6F$ approac% to livin* matter .Del Giudice et al 188C,1888(/, t%e) %ave (een identi"ied .Di(u et al 1884,188;/ &it% t%e vi(rational electric dipole "ield o" t%e &ater molecules and ot%er (iomolecules present in t%e (rain, and &it% t%e NG (osons .called t%e dipole &ave 'uanta .d&'// *enerated in t%e (rea0do&n o" t%e rotational s)mmetr) o" t%e electrical dipoles! Memor) printin* is ac%ieved under t%e action o" e-ternal stimuli producin* t%e (rea0do&n o" t%e continuous p%ase s)mmetr)! $%e 'uantum model o" t%e (rain t%us imports all t%e mac%iner) o" t%e spontaneous (rea0do&n o" s)mmetr) introduced in t%e previous Section! $%e in"ormation stora*e "unction is t%us represented () t%e codin* o" t%e *round state .t%e lo&est ener*) state, or vacuum/ t%rou*% t%e co%erent condensation o" d&' collective modes .Stuart et al! 1898: 1898/! $%e non,localit) o" t%e memor) is t%ere"ore derived as a d)namical "eature rat%er t%an as a propert) o" speci"ic neural circuits, &%ic% &ould (e criticall) dama*ed () destructive actions or () sin*le neuron deat% or de"icienc)! $%e sta(ilit) o" memor) demands t%at t%e d&' must (e in t%e lo&est ener*) state .t%e *round state/, &%ic% also *uarantees t%at memor) is easil) created and readil) e-cited in t%e recall process! $%e lon* ran*e correlation must also (e 'uite ro(ust in order to survive a*ainst t%e constant state o" electroc%emical e-citation o" t%e (rain and t%e continual response to e-ternal stimulation! It is s%o&n .Del Giudice et al!1888(/ t%at t%e time scale associated &it% t%e co%erent interaction o" electrical dipole "ields "or &ater

molecules is o" t%e order o" 10 to ,14 sec, t%us muc% s%orter t%an times associated &it% s%ort ran*e interactions, and t%ere"ore t%ese e""ects are &ell protected a*ainst t%ermal "luctuations! ?t t%e same time, t%e (rain electroc%emical activit) must (e coupled to t%e d&'! It is indeed t%e electroc%emical activit) o(served () neurop%)siolo*) t%at provides a "irst response to e-ternal stimuli! $%e (rain is t%en modeled .Stuart et al! 1898: 1898/ as a mixed s)stem involvin* t&o separate (ut interactin* levels! $%e memor) level is a 'uantum d)namical level, t%e electroc%emical activit) is at a classical level! It is an open pro(lem to 0no& t%e speci"ic interactions relatin* t%ese t&o levels! ?ccordin* to some studies .Di(u et al! 1884,188;: Vitiello 2001/, t%e 'uantum, lon* ran*e dipolar correlation in t%e &ater matri- pla)s a crucial role in t%e electroc%emical activit)! $%is points to t%e role o" t%e *lia cells in t%e (ioc%emical (rain activit) .o"ten overloo0ed in "avor o" t%e neuronal activit)/ and ma) constitute t%e lin0 (et&een t%e t&o levels! Bo&ever, muc% &or0 still %as to (e done in suc% a direction! For t%e sa0e o" (revit) I &ill not comment more on t%is still open crucial 'uestion! $%e recall process is descri(ed as t%e e-citation o" d&' modes under e-ternal stimuli o" a nature similar to t%e ones producin* t%e memor) printin* process! In t%e &ords o" <icciardi and Ume+a&a, upon e-citation o" d&' "rom t%e *round state to %i*%er ener*) states t%e (rain 1consciousl) "eels1 t%e pre,e-istin* order .recall/! $%is is similar to scannin* a cr)stal () p%onon e-citation in order to read out its speci"ic cr)stalline structure! 3on* term memor) is printed in t%e lo&est ener*) state .t%e vacuum/, &%ic% ensures its sta(ilit)! S%ort,term memor) is instead associated to metasta(le e-cited states o" d&' condensate .<icciardi and Ume+a&a 18;9: Siva0ami and Srinivasan 188E/ and t%ere"ore it %as a "inite li"e,time! I &ill not, at t%is point, "urt%er discuss s%ort,term memor)! 3et me instead o(serve t%at once some e-ternal input tri**ers t%e *round state orderin* and memor) is recorded in t%e *round state, a successive di""erent input, in turn, produces a di""erent orderin* correspondin* to t%e associated di""erent memor) recordin*! Suc% a successive input t%us over&rites t%e previousl) recorded memor)! $%is is similar to successive recordin* on t%e same portion o" a ma*netic tape> t%e last recorded voice or sound destro)s t%e previous records! =e %ave overprinting, or, in di""erent &ords, &e %ave a pro(lem o" memory capacity! =e cannot store more t%an one memor) at a time! $%e reason "or t%is is t%at t%at portion o" t%e tape ma) onl) (e "ound in one sin*le vacuum at a *iven time! Vacua la(eled () di""erent code num(ers .di""erent values o" t%e order parameter, as e-plained in t%e previous Section/ are accessi(le onl) t%rou*% a se'uence o" p%ase transitions "rom one to anot%er one o" t%em! $%us in t%e <icciardi and Ume+a&a (rain model, &%ere one sin*le code .one sin*le memor)/ is associated to eac% vacuum, eac% recordin* process destro)s t%e previousl) stored in"ormation . overprinting/> under a

se'uence o" e-ternal di""erent inputs t%e (rain sets in a se'uence o" di""erent vacua, onl) t%e last one survivin*! $%is is a stron* de"ect in t%e model! ? solution to suc% a pro(lem o" memory capacity could (e "ound () assumin* a %u*e num(er o" s)mmetries "or t%e (rain s)stem .a %u*e num(er o" code classes "or t%e (rain 3a*ran*ian/ .Stuart, 1898: 1898/! In suc% a case, one could %ave di""erent classes o" inputs associated &it% di""erent s)mmetries! 7ne could t%en %ave di""erent memor) recordin*s associated &it% t%e processes o" t%e (rea0do&n o" t%e di""erent s)mmetries! Bo&ever, one still &ould not %ave solved t%e overprintin* pro(lem "or inputs in t%e same class! In an) case, Stuart, $a0a%as%i and Ume+a&a .Stuart, 1898: 1898/ &ere pointin* out t%at suc% a t%eor), &it% suc% a %u*e, practicall) in"inite, num(er o" s)mmetries, &ould (e completel) out o" an) computational control, and t%ere"ore it &ould (e not p%)sicall) accepta(le! $%e model &ould (e completel) useless! Bo&ever, t%ere is anot%er possi(ilit) o" solvin* t%e overprintin* pro(lem &it%out recourse to t%e introduction o" a %u*e num(er o" s)mmetries! In t%e ne-t Section &e &ill see %o& dissipation provides suc% a solution!

The $issipati%e Quantum "odel of Brain

$%e memor) capacit) can (e enormousl) enlar*ed () considerin* .Vitiello 188C/ t%e intrinsic dissipative c%aracter o" t%e (rain d)namics> t%e (rain is an open system continuousl) coupled to t%e environment! 3et me denote t%e d&' () ?.0/ .%ere 0 *enericall) denotes t%e "ield de*rees o" "reedom, e!*! spatial momentum/! ?s said in t%e previous Section, t%e d&' are t%e NG modes *enerated in t%e s)mmetr) (rea0do&n process under t%e e-ternal stimuli action! $%e num(er N.?/ "or all 0 o" t%e ?.0/,modes, condensed in t%e vacuum |0(N !, constitutes t%e code o" t%e in"ormation! In order to set up t%e proper canonical "ormalism "or dissipative s)stems a standard result in 6F$ .Aele*%ini et al! 1882/ re'uires t%e dou(lin* o" t%e ?.0/ operators () introducin* t%eir time"reversed copies, sa) F.0/! I &ill come (ac0 soon to t%is point! 3et me "irst o(serve t%at t%e crucial point o" dissipative d)namics is t%at t%e vacuum state is no& de"ined to (e t%e state in &%ic% t%e difference N.?/,N.F/ G 0, "or all 0! $%is means t%at also t%e state "or &%ic% N#.?/,N#.F/ G 0, &it% N#.?/ N.?/, is a vacuum state, and t%us t%ere are in"initel) man) simultaneous *round states, eac% one correspondin* to a di""erent value o" t%e code N.?/! Hac% o" t%ese *round states o" code N.?/ is t%us associated to a correspondent memor)! It can (e s%o&n .Vitiello 188C/ t%at eac% o" t%ese states is unitar) ine'uivalent to t%e ot%er ones, and t%us protected "rom un&anted

inter"erence .confusion/ &it% ot%er memor) states! $%e unitar) ine'uivalence amon* t%e de*enerate vacua, i!e! t%e non,e-istence in t%e in"inite volume limit o" unitar) trans"ormations &%ic% ma) trans"orm one vacuum o" code N into anot%er one o" code N5, *uarantees t%at t%e correspondin* printed memories are indeed different or distinguishable memories .N is a *ood code/! $%e (rain .*round/ state is t%en represented as t%e collection .or t%e superposition/ o" t%e "ull set o" memor) states |0(N !, "or all N> $%e (rain is descri(ed as a comples)stem &it% a %u*e num(er o" .coe-istin*/ macroscopic 'uantum states .t%e memor) states/! $%e dissipative d)namics introduces N,coded replicas o" t%e s)stem and, contrar) to t%e non,dissipative 'uantum model, in"ormation printin* can (e per"ormed in eac% replica &it%out reciprocal destructive inter"erence! ? %u*e memor) capacit) is t%us ac%ieved .Vitiello 188C/! In t%e non,dissipative case t%e memor) states are sta(le states .in"initel) lon*,lived states/> t%ere is no possi(ilit) o" "or*ettin* .I am not considerin* %ere s%ort,term memor) states/! $o t%e contrar), in t%e dissipative case t%e memor) states %ave "inite .alt%ou*% lon*/ li"e,times .Vitiello 188C/! ?t some time t G t5 t%e memor) state I0. N/J is reduced to t%e empty vacuum I0.0/J &%ere N.0/ G 0 "or all 0> t%e in"ormation %as (een "or*otten! ?t t%e time t G t5 t%e state I0.0/J is availa(le "or recordin* a ne& in"ormation! It is interestin* to o(serve t%at in order to not completel) "or*et certain in"ormation, one needs to restore t%e N code .Vitiello 188C/, namel) to refresh t%e memor) () (rus%in* up on t%e su(@ect .e-ternal stimuli maintained memor) .Siva0ami and Srinivasan 188E//! In t%e dissipative model t%e recall mec%anism is descri(ed in t%e same &a) as in t%e earl) 'uantum model and t%e unitar) ine'uivalence amon* t%e di""erentl) coded memor) states also avoids un&anted inter"erences .con"usion/ amon* memories! I remar0 no& t%at t%e F.0/,modes can (e s%o&n .Ume+a&a 188E: Aele*%ini et al! 1882: Vitiello 188C/ to represent t%e environment! $%is is a mat%ematical conse'uence o" t%e "ormalism, &%ic%, at a "irst si*%t, could (e di""icult to see since at t%e same time t%e tilde,modes are t%e time,reversed cop) o" t%e s)stem! Bo&ever, one can understand t%is point () noticin* t%at t%e canonical "ormalism onl) deals &it% closed s)stems! $%ere"ore in t%e stud) o" an open s)stem one must include t%e environment in t%e treatment in order to 1close1 t%e s)stem! $%e point is t%at, for such a task it is not re'uired to consider an) detail o" t%e environment, nor its couplin* to t%e s)stem! In order to 1close1 t%e s)stem one onl) needs to 1(alance1 t%e ener*) "lu-es, and t%is is &%) t%e environment can (e simpl), (ut e""icientl), represented () t%e e-act cop) o" t%e s)stem, e-act e-cept "or t%e e-c%an*e o" t%e 1in,comin*1 &it% t%e 1out,*oin*1, namel) t%e time,reversed cop)! $%e cop) needs to (e 1e-act1 since &e &ant 1(alance1! I also remar0 t%at since t%e environment cannot (e ne*lected in t%e "ormalism, so t%e F.0/,modes cannot (e

ne*lected! Moreover, "or di""erent s)stems, &e %ave di""erent F.0/,representations o" t%e environment> t%is is a simple mat%ematical implication o" t%e canonical "ormalism &%ic% re'uires "ull e'uivalence .a part time,reversal/ o" t%e ? and F s)stems .in t%is sense, ? is t%e time,reversed cop) o" t%e environment/! $%e reader s%ould not (e upset i" I &ill re"er to t%e F5s as t%e s)stem5s sub$ective representation o" t%e environment! ?lt%ou*% I onl) re"er &it% t%is term to t%e @ust mentioned mat%ematical implication, nevert%eless t%e &a) is open to some con@ectures &%ic% I &ill present in t%e Section ;! 3et me also stress t%at t%e tilde,modes also enter in t%e memor) states .and t%ere"ore in t%e (rain state/, as said a(ove! $%e) are indeed descri(ed as t%e holes o" t%e ?,modes .Ume+a&a 188E/, in a &a) ver) similar to t%e description o" particle,%ole couples in condensed matter p%)sics, &%ere %oles are o(served as real e-citations .e!*! in a semiconductor/!

&

Finite Si'e "emor! $omains

Aonsider no& t%e case in &%ic% t%e d&' "re'uenc) is assumed to (e time,dependent .t%e parametric dissipative model/! $%e time,reversed cop) F o" t%e d&' can (e still introduced! 7ne "inds t%at t%e couple o" e'uations descri(in* t%e d&' ? and t%e dou(led modes F is e'uivalent to t%e sp%erical Kessel e'uation o" order n .n inte*er or +ero/ .?l"inito and Vitiello 2000(/ ! $%e coupled s)stem ?,F is t%en descri(ed () a parametric oscillator o" "re'uenc) f.n.0,t//! $%ere is no need to *ive %ere t%e speci"ic mat%ematical e-pression o" t%is "re'uenc) .see ?l"inito and Vitiello 2000( "or t%at/! I onl) need to remar0 t%at t%e time,dependence o" t%is "re'uenc) means t%at, in t%is parametric case, ener*) is not conserved in time and t%ere"ore t%at t%e ?,F s)stem does not constitute a "ull) closed s)stem .F is a non,complete, partial representation o" t%e environment, somet%in* o" t%e environment is le"t out/! Bo&ever, &%en n , f.n/ approac%es to a constant, i!e! in suc% a limit t%e ener*) is conserved and t%e ?,F s)stem *ets closed .F (ecomes in t%at limit t%e representation o" t%e "ull environment/! $%us, as n t%e s)stem ? is descri(ed as fully coupled to t%e environment! $%is su**ests t%at n represents t%e num(er o" links (et&een ? and t%e environment! =%en n is not ver) lar*e .in"init)/, t%e s)stem ? .t%e (rain/ %as not "ul"illed its capa(ilit) to esta(lis% lin0s &it% t%e e-ternal &orld! Moreover, n graduates t%e rate o" variations in time o" t%e "re'uenc), i!e! t%e rapidity o" t%e s)stem response to e-ternal stimuli! $%e time span use"ul "or memor) recordin* .t%e a(ilit) o" memor) storin*/ is "ound to *ro& as t%e num(er o" lin0s &it% t%e e-ternal &orld *ro&s> t%e more t%e s)stem is open to t%e e-ternal &orld .t%e more lin0s/, t%e (etter it can memori+e .%i*% a(ilit) o" learnin*/! $%e a(ilit) in learnin* ma) (e di""erent under di""erent circumstances, at di""erent a*es, and so on!

7ne can s%o& t%at t%e memor) recordin* can occur onl) &%en t%e "re'uenc) f.n.0,t// is real! $%is %appens onl) &%en t%e momentum 0 is *reater or e'ual to some momentum q &%ic% depends on n, t, and on some c%aracteristic parameter 3 o" t%e s)stem, q q.n,t, 3/! In turn t%is implies t%at onl) &ave,len*t%s 1Lq are allo&ed> 1Lq pla)s t%e role o" a cut,o""! $%us .co%erent/ domains o" si+es less or e'ual to 1L q are involved in t%e memor) recordin*! $%e cut,o"" s%rin0s in time "or a *iven n! 7n t%e ot%er %and, a *ro&t% o" n opposes suc% a s%rin0in*! $%ese cut,o"" c%an*es correspondin*l) re"lect on t%e memor) domain si+es! It is t%us e-pected t%at, "or a *iven n, more impressive is t%e e-ternal stimulus, i!e! t%e *reater t%e num(er o" %i*% momentum e-citations produced in t%e (rain, t%e more focused t%e locus o" t%e memor)! $%e "initeness o" t%e si+e o" t%e domains implies t%at transitions t%rou*% di""erent vacuum states at *iven t (ecome possi(le! ?s a conse'uence, (ot% t%e p%enomena o" association of memories and o" confusion of memories, &%ic% &ould (e avoided in t%e re*ime o" strict unitar) ine'uivalence amon* vacua .i!e! in t%e in"initel) lon* &ave,len*t% re*ime/, are possi(le .Vitiello 188C: ?l"inito and Vitiello 2000(/! I also note t%at, due to "initeness o" t%e si+e o" t%e domains, t%e irreversi(ilit) o" t%e d)namics is not strictl) en"orced as it &ould (e in t%e in"initel) lon* &ave,len*t% re*ime! In particular, modes &it% lar*er 0 are "ound to %ave a lon*er li"e &it% re"erence to time t! 7nl) modes allo&ed () t%e cut,o"" are present at a certain time t, "or t%e ot%er ones %ave deca)ed! $%is introduces a %ierarc%ical or*ani+ation o" memories dependin* on t%eir li"e,time> memories &it% a speci"ic spectrum o" 0 mode components ma) coe-ist, some o" t%em d)in* (e"ore, some ot%er ones persistin* lon*er! $%e .co%erent/ memor) domain si+es are correspondin*l) lar*er or smaller! I "urt%er note t%at, as an e""ect o" t%e di""erence in t%e li"e,times o" di""erent 0 modes, t%e spectral structure o" a speci"ic memor) ma) (e corrupted, t%us allo&in* "or more or less severe memor) deformations! $%is mec%anism adds up to t%e memor) deca) implied () dissipation! Finall), I o(serve t%at t%e "initeness o" t%e domain si+e is 0no&n to impl) a non,+ero e""ective mass o" t%e d&'! Suc% a mass acts as a t%res%old in t%e e-citation ener*) o" t%e d&' so t%at, in order to tri**er t%e recall process, an ener*) suppl) e'ual or *reater t%an suc% a t%res%old is re'uired! =%en t%e ener*) suppl) is lo&er t%an t%e t%res%old a difficulty in recalling ma) (e e-perienced! Bo&ever, t%e t%res%old ma) also positivel) act as a protection a*ainst un&anted pertur(ations .e!*! t%ermali+ation/ and cooperate to t%e sta(ilit) o" t%e memor) state! In t%e case o" +ero t%res%old .in"inite si+e domain/ an) replication si*nal could e-cite t%e recallin* and t%e (rain &ould "all in a state o" continuous flow of memories .Vitiello 188C/!

$issipation and Information

I remar0 t%at once certain in"ormation %as (een recorded under t%e action o" some e-ternal stimulus, t%en, as a consequence, time,reversal s)mmetr) is also (ro0en .Vitiello 188C: 1888: 2001/> %fter in"ormation %as (een recorded, memor) sta(ilit) implies t%at t%e (rain cannot (e (rou*%t to t%e state in &%ic% it &as before t%e in"ormation printin* occurred! $%is is, a"ter all, t%e content o" t%e &arnin*> N&' you know it())) 7nce )ou come to 0no& somet%in*, )ou are anot%er person! $%is means t%at in (rain modelin* one is actuall) o(li*ed to use t%e "ormalism descri(in* irreversible time,evolution! Due to t%e memor) printin* process time evolution o" t%e (rain states is intrinsically irreversi(le> $%e same "act o" *ettin* in"ormation introduces the arrow of time into (rain d)namics, namel) it introduces a partition in t%e time evolution, i!e!, t%e distinction (et&een t%e past and t%e "uture, a distinction &%ic% did not e-ist (e"ore t%e in"ormation recordin*! Ke"ore t%e recordin* process time could (e al&a)s reversed! It can (e s%o&n t%at dissipation implies t%at time evolution o" t%e memor) state is controlled () t%e entrop) variations .Vitiello 188C: ?l"inito and Vitiello 2000(/> t%is "eature re"lects, indeed, t%e mentioned irreversi(ilit) o" time evolution, namel) t%e c%oice o" a privile*ed direction in time evolution! =e t%us recover, in a completel) une-pected &a), a strict connection (et&een in"ormation and entrop)! $%is %olds true also in t%e case o" t%e "ormation o" "inite si+e co%erent domains &%ic% smoot%s out, (ut does not eliminate t%e strict irreversi(ilit) o" t%e d)namics! In particular, &e %ave seen t%at t%e intrinsic dissipative nature o" t%e (rain d)namics *uarantees t%e e-istence o" in"initel) man) de*enerate vacua, namel) t%e possibility o" %avin* a %u*e memor) capacit)! Kut it is indeed suc% a possibility, t%e c%aracteri+in* "eature o" in"ormation &%ic% is in "act computed, accordin* to S%annon, in terms o" t%e possible choices amon* t%e availa(le alternatives! I stress, %o&ever, t%at, &%ile in t%e latter t%e possi(ilities are re"erred to t%e in"ormation source, in t%e dissipative 'uantum model t%e in"ormation source, i!e! t%e environment, is represented () t%e F s)stem &%ic% at t%e same time is also t%e copy o" t%e (rain, i!e!, in some sense t%e source coincides &it% t%e receiver! Moreover, &e %ave seen a(ove t%at, &%en t%e d&' "re'uenc) is assumed to (e time,dependent, "inite si+e co%erent domains are *enerated, &%ic% smoot% out t%e strict ine'uivalence amon* t%e de*enerate vacua, t%us reducin* t%e num(er o" possi(le c%oices .some o" t%e vacua ma) %ave non trivial overlap/! Suc% a "eature, as alread) o(served, is o" advanta*e in t%e memor) storin* and retrieval, since it allo&s paths or associations leadin* "rom memor) to memor), t%us improvin* t%e handling o" t%e %u*e memor) storin* and retrieval! In in"ormation t%eor) it is 0no&n t%at t%e adoption o" coded

restrictions .a conventional set o" rules or restrictions/ on t%e "ull set o" possi(le c%oices present in t%e source improves t%e in"ormation transmission! In t%e dissipative model t%ese restrictions are dynamically introduced t%rou*% t%e "inite si+e domain "ormation! In t%e "ollo&in* Section I &ill comment on %o& t%e input . the signal/ ma) ac'uire, "or t%e receivin* su(@ect .t%e s)stem ?/, a significance .it ac'uires a sense or meaning/! It is an interestin* 'uestion as0in* a(out t%e relation (et&een t%e dissipative 'uantum model o" (rain and semiotics "rom one side, and lin*uistics "rom t%e ot%er side .Stamenov 1889/! Finall), let me o(serve t%at t%e stationar) condition "or t%e "ree ener*) "unctional leads one to reco*ni+e t%e memor) state I0. N,t/J to (e a "inite temperature state .Ume+a&a 188E/, &%ic% opens t%e &a) to t%e possi(ilit) o" t%ermod)namic considerations in t%e (rain activit)! In t%is connection, I o(serve t%at t%e psychological arrow of time &%ic% emer*es in t%e dissipative (rain d)namics turns out to (e oriented in t%e same direction o" t%e thermodynamical arrow of time, &%ic% points in t%e increasin* entrop) direction! It is interestin* to note t%at (ot% t%ese arro&s, t%e ps)c%olo*ical one and t%e t%ermod)namical one, also point in t%e same direction o" t%e cosmological arrow of time, de"ined () t%e e-pandin* Universe direction .?l"inito et al! 2000a: Ba&0in* and 4enrose 188;/!

$issipation and Consciousness

In t%is Section I &ill present some con@ectures and interpretations su**ested () t%e mat%ematical "eatures o" t%e dissipative 'uantum model! Muc% &or0 is still needed in order to clari") man) 'uestions related &it% t%e interpretations and t%e comments presented (elo&! It is, %o&ever, interestin* t%at some mat%ematical "eatures o" t%e model ma) %ave, alread) at t%is sta*e o" t%e researc%, surprisin*l) "ar reac%in*, alt%ou*% 'ualitative, implications on consciousness stud) and related issues! In &%at "ollo&s I &ill not consider conclusions derived () ot%er t%eoretical approac%es and all t%e statements are al&a)s restricted and re"erred to t%e "rame&or0 o" t%e dissipative 'uantum model! $%e couplin* o" ? &it% F descri(es nonlinear d)namical "eatures o" t%e dissipative model! $%e nonlinearit) o" t%e d)namics descri(es a sel",interaction or (ac0,reaction process "or t%e ? s)stem! F t%us also pla)s a role in suc% sel",couplin* or self"recognition processes! $%e F s)stem is t%e mirror in time ima*e, or t%e time"reversed copy o" t%e ? s)stem! It actuall) duplicates t%e ? s)stem, it is t%e ? s)stem5s Double and since it can never (e eliminated, t%e ? s)stem can never (e separated "rom its Dou(le! $%e role o" t%e F modes in t%e sel",interaction processes leads me to con@ecture t%at t%e tilde,s)stem is actuall) involved in consciousness mec%anisms .Vitiello 188C: 2001/! Dissipation

mani"ests itsel" as a second person, t%e Dou(le or *osia .4lautus, 188 K!A!/, to dialo*ue &it%! +onsciousness seems thus to emerge as a manifestation of the dissipative dynamics of the brain! In t%is &a), consciousness appears to (e not solel) c%aracteri+ed () a su(@ective d)namics: its roots, on t%e contrar), seem to (e *rounded in t%e permanent trade o" t%e (rain .t%e su(@ect/ &it% t%e e-ternal &orld, on t%e d)namical relation (et&een t%e s)stem ? and its Sosia or Dou(le F, permanentl) @oined to it! Aonsciousness is reac%ed through t%e openin* to t%e e-ternal &orld! $%e crucial role o" dissipation is t%at sel",mirrorin* is not an)more a self"trap .as "or Narcissus/, t%e conscious su(@ect cannot (e a monad! Aonsciousness is onl) possi(le i" dissipation, openness onto t%e outside &orld is allo&ed! =it%out t%e ob$ective e-ternal &orld t%ere &ould (e no possi(ilit) "or t%e (rain to (e an open s)stem, and no F s)stem &ould at all e-ist! $%e ver) same e-istence o" t%e e-ternal &orld is t%e prerequisite "or t%e (rain to (uild up its o&n sub$ective simulation, its own representation o" t%e &orld! It is an interestin* 'uestion to as0 a(out t%e possi(le relation o" t%e dissipative 'uantum model, and o" t%e dou(lin* o" t%e de*rees o" "reedom, &it% t%e 1t&o &orlds1 or t%e d)adic realit) anal)+ed in $a(ors0) 2000! $%e in"ormational inputs "rom t%e e-ternal &orld are t%e images o" t%e &orld! 7nce t%e) are recorded () ? t%e) (ecome t%e image o" ? > F is t%e address o" ?, it is identi"ied &it% .is a cop) o"/ ?! =e %ave seen t%at suc% a memor) recordin* process implies a breakdown, a lack o" s)mmetr)> memor) as negation o" t%e s)mmetr) &%ic% ma0es t%in*s indistin*uis%a(le amon* t%emselves .Vitiello 1888: 2001/: memor) as non" oblivion, literall) t%e o" t%e ancient Gree0s! It is interestin* t%at t%e same &ord &as used () t%em to denote t%e truth! ?s alread) mentioned in Section 4, t%e "initeness o" t%e si+e o" t%e correlated domains implies t%at recordin* memories re'uires some e-pense o" ener*) .t%e one re'uired () t%e non,+ero e""ective mass o" t%e d&'/! $%is su**ests t%at, unavoida(l), &e are led to ma0e a choice, an active selection amon* t%e man) inputs &e receive> &e record onl) t%ose t%at &e @ud*e &ort%&%ile to e-pend some ener*) "or! In ot%er &ords, t%e ones to &%ic% &e attri(ute a value, &%ic% involve our commitment .emotion/! It is t%e speci"ic in"ormation received t%rou*% t%ose selected inputs &%ic% t%en (ecomes our memory, it (ecomes our truth ., indeed/! It is %ere, in t%e map o" suc% values, t%at our memor) depicts our identity! In "act, mat%ematicall) spea0in*, in t%e model t%e (rain state is identified () t%e collection o" t%e memor) codes! It &ill (e interestin* to consider t%ese su**estions o" t%e dissipative model in connection &it% t%e mec%anisms involvin* values and emotion in ot%er t%eoretical models .see, e!*! 4erlovs0) 2001/! I leave t%is to a "uture anal)sis!

$%e dissipative model also e-cludes an) ri*id fixation or trapping in certain states! Suc% a plasticit) implies t%at &e are not simpl) spectators or victims o" passive perceptions! ?ctive perceptions, our active c%oices %ave also a part in our continuous interpla) &it% t%e &orld! Freeman stresses t%at (rain actuall) processes meanings rat%er t%an in"ormation .Freeman 2000/! In %is vie& meanin*s are intended actions, namel) t%e meanin* (elon*s to, is in t%e su(@ect and arises "rom t%e active perception o" t%at su(@ect, &%ic% includes intentionalit)! $%e (rain as an adaptive s)stem permanentl) con@u*ates t%e memor) o" t%e past, namel) t%e 0no&led*e o" t%e causes, &%ic% deterministicall) pus%es "or&ard, &it% t%e *oal,oriented activit) .Freeman5s intended actions/ o" t%e present, &%ic% teleolo*icall) attracts to t%e "uture! $%e con@ecture is %ere t%at tilde,modes e-press meanin*s or meaningful representations rat%er t%an @ust representations! $%e dissipative model t%us seems to su**est t%at one reac%es an active point of view o" t%e &orld .Vitiello 1888: 2001: Desideri 1888/, &%ic% naturall) carries in it t%e unfaithfulness o" su(@ectivit)! Kut suc% un"ait%"ulness is precious! It is e-actl) in suc% an un"ait%"ulness t%at t%e map o" t%e values &%ic% identify t%e su(@ect %as to (e searc%ed! It is in t%e a(ove discussed processes t%at t%e e-ternal signal ac'uires a sense, a meaning) $%e comparison o" t%e dissipative model &it% ot%er t%eoretical sc%emes .e!*! &it% 4erlovs0) 2001/ on t%ese issues &ould (e ver) interestin* (ut (e)ond t%e tas0s o" t%e present paper! Note t%at t%e a(ove mentioned sel",reco*nition process includes re"lection loops as &ell as control loops o" t%e su(@ect,environment interaction! Due to t%e sel",identi"ication process t%ese loops are sel",re"erence loops .Aordesc%i et al! 1888/! Finall), t%e dissipative 'uantum model seems to impl) t%at t%e conscious identit) emer*es at any instant of time, in t%e present, as t%e minimum ener*) (rain state &%ic% separates t%e past "rom t%e "uture, t%at point on t%e mirror of time &%ere t%e con@u*ate ima*es ? and F @oin to*et%er! In t%e a(sence o" suc% a mirrorin* t%ere is neit%er consciousness o" t%e past, nor its pro@ection in t%e "uture> t%e su**estion is t%at consciousness does not arises solel) "rom t%e su(@ect . first person/ inner activit), &it%out openin* to t%e e-ternal &orld! In t%e dissipative 'uantum model t%e intrinsic dissipative c%aracter o" t%e (rain d)namics stron*l) points to consciousness as dialogue &it% t%e insepara(le o&n Dou(le .Vitiello 1888: 2001/! Alari")in* t%ese issues in "uture studies &ill (e a c%allen*in* tas0!

R F R *C S ?l"inito, H!, <!Man0a and G!Vitiello 2000a! Vacuum structure "or e-pandin* *eometr)! +lass) ,uant) -rav) 19>8E,111! ?l"inito, H! and G!Vitiello 2000(! 3i"e,time and locali+a(ilit) o" memor) states in t%e dissipative 'uantum model o" (rain! .nt) /) 0od) 1hys) K14>8CE,8;8 Aele*%ini, H!, H! Gra+iano and G! Vitiello 1880! Alassical limit and spontaneous (rea0do&n o" s)mmetr) as an environment e""ect in 'uantum "ield t%eor)! 1hys) 2ett) 14C?>1,;! Aele*%ini, H!, M! <asetti and G! Vitiello 1882! 6uantum dissipation! %nn)1hys) (N)3) 21C>1C;,190! Aordesc%i, <!, G!$am(urrini and G! $ratteur 1888! $%e notion o" loop in t%e stud) o" consciousness! In $addei,Ferretti and A!Musio Hds!, Neuronal bases of psychological aspects of consciousness, pp!C24,C40! Sin*apore> =orld Scienti"ic! Del Giudice, H!, S! Do*lia, M! Milani and G! Vitiello 188C! ? 'uantum "ield t%eoretical approac% to t%e collective (e%avior o" (iolo*ical s)stems! Nucl) 1hys) K2C1 MFS 1EN>E9C,400) Del Giudice, H!, S! Do*lia, M! Milani and G! Vitiello 188;! Hlectroma*netic "ield and spontaneous s)mmetr) (rea0do&n in (iolo*ical matter! Nucl) 1hys) K2C1 MFS 19N>18C,188! Del Giudice, H!, S! Do*lia, M! Milani and G! Vitiello 1888a! Structures, correlations and electroma*netic interactions in livin* matter> t%eor) and applications! In B! FrO%lic% Hd!, 4iological coherence and response to external stimuli, pp! 48,;4) Kerlin> Sprin*er,Verla*! Del Giudice, H!, G! 4reparata and G! Vitiello 1888(! =ater as a "ree electron laser! 1hys) 5ev) 2ett) ;1>108C,1088) Del Giudice, H!, <! Man0a, M! Milani and G! Vitiello 1888c! Non,constant order parameter and vacuum evolution! 1hys) 2ett) K 20;>;;1,;;4) Desideri, F! 1888! 2#ascolto della coscien6a) Milano> Feltrinelli! Freeman, =!D! 2000! Neurodynamics7 %n exploration of mesoscopic brain dynamics) Kerlin> Sprin*er! Green"ield, S!?! 1889a! Bo& mi*%t t%e (rain *enerate consciousnessP +ommunication 8 +ognition E0>28C,E00! Green"ield, S!?! 1889(! 9he brain7 a guided tour! Ne& Qor0> Freeman! Ba&0in*, S!=! and <! 4enrose 188;! 9he nature of space and time) 4rinceton> 4rinceton Universit) 4ress! Di(u, M!, S! Ba*an, S!<! Bamero"", R! B! 4ri(ram and R! Qasue 1884! 6uantum optical co%erence in c)tos0eletal microtu(ules> implications "or (rain "unctions! 4io*ystems E2>18C,208! Di(u, M! and R! Qasue 188C! ,uantum brain dynamics and consciousness) ?msterdam> D! Ken@amin! Di(u, M!, R!B!4ri(ram and R!Qasue 188;! From conscious e-perience to memor) stora*e and retrivial> $%e role o" 'uantum (rain d)namics and (oson condensation o" evanescent p%otons! .nt) /) 0od) 1hys) K10>19EC,19C4) 4erlovs0), 3! 2001! Neural Networks and .ntellect! 7-"ord> Universit) 4ress! 4lautus, $! Maccius 188 K!A!! ?mp%itruo) In A! Marc%esi 18;9, *toria della letteratura latina, pp! 49,98) Milano> 4rincipato!

4ri(ram, R!B! 1891! 2anguages of the brain! Ne& Derse)> Hn*le&ood Ali""s! S 1881! 4rain and perception! Ne& Derse)> 3a&rence Hrl(aum! <icciardi, 3!M! and B!Ume+a&a 18;9! Krain p%)sics and man),(od) pro(lems! :ibernetik 4>44,48! Siva0ami S! and V!Srinivasan 188E! ? model "or memor)! /) 9heor) 4iol) 102>289,284! Stamenov, M!I! 1889! Grammar, meanin* and consciousness! In M!I! Stamenov Hd!, 2anguage structure, discourse and the access to consciousness, pp! 299, E42 ;%dvances in consciousness research <=>! ?msterdam> Do%n Ken@amins! Stuart, A!I!D!, Q!$a0a%as%i and B!Ume+a&a 1898! 7n t%e sta(ilit) and non, local properties o" memor)! /) 9heor) 4iol) 91>;0C,;18! Stuart, A!I!D!, Q!$a0a%as%i and B!Ume+a&a 1898! Mi-ed s)stem (rain d)namics> neural memor) as a macroscopic ordered state! ?ound) 1hys) 8>E01 ,E29! $a(ors0), H! 2000! $%e comple- In"ormation process! @ntropy 2>81,89! Ume+a&a, B! 188E! %dvanced field theory7 micro, macro and thermal concepts) Ne& Qor0> ?merican Institute o" 4%)sics! Vitiello, G! 188C! Dissipation and memor) capacit) in t%e 'uantum (rain model! .nt) /) 0od) 1hys) 8>89E,888! S 1888! Dissipa+ione e coscien+a! %tque 1;>191,188) S 2001! 0y Double unveiled " 9he dissipative quantum model of brain! ?msterdam> Do%n Ken@amins!