In this paper we briefly discuss the necessity of using quantum mechanics as a fundamental theory applicable to some key functional aspects of biological systems. This is especially relevant to three important parts of a neuron in the human brain, na
mely the cell membrane, microtubules (MT) and ion channels. We argue that the recently published papers criticizing the use of quantum theory in these systems are not convincing.
Recently, we have proposed a redox molecular hypothesis about the natural biophysical substrate of visual perception and imagery (Bokkon, 2009. BioSystems; Bokkon and DAngiulli, 2009. Bioscience Hypotheses). Namely, the retina transforms external pho
ton signals into electrical signals that are carried to the V1 (striate cortex). Then, V1 retinotopic electrical signals (spike-related electrical signals along classical axonal-dendritic pathways) can be converted into regulated ultraweak bioluminescent photons (biophotons) through redox processes within retinotopic visual neurons that make it possible to create intrinsic biophysical pictures during visual perception and imagery. However, the consensus opinion is to consider biophotons as by-products of cellular metabolism. This paper argues that biophotons are not by-products, other than originating from regulated cellular radical/redox processes. It also shows that the biophoton intensity can be considerably higher inside cells than outside. Our simple calculations, within a level of accuracy, suggest that the real biophoton intensity in retinotopic neurons may be sufficient for creating intrinsic biophysical picture representation of a single-object image during visual perception.
Recently, we put forwarded a redox molecular hypothesis involving the natural biophysical substrate of visual perception and imagery. Here, we explicitly propose that the feedback and feedforward iterative operation processes can be interpreted in te
rms of a homunculus looking at the biophysical picture in our brain during visual imagery. We further propose that the brain can use both picture-like and language-like representation processes. In our interpretation, visualization (imagery) is a special kind of representation i.e., visual imagery requires a peculiar inherent biophysical (picture-like) mechanism. We also conjecture that the evolution of higher levels of complexity made the biophysical picture representation of the external visual world possible by controlled redox and bioluminescent nonlinear (iterative) biochemical reactions in the V1 and V2 areas during visual imagery. Our proposal deals only with the primary level of visual representation (i.e. perceived scene).
In this paper we argue that, in addition to electrical and chemical signals propagating in the neurons of the brain, signal propagation takes place in the form of biophoton production. This statement is supported by recent experimental confirmation o
f photon guiding properties of a single neuron. We have investigated the interaction of mitochondrial biophotons with microtubules from a quantum mechanical point of view. Our theoretical analysis indicates that the interaction of biophotons and microtubules causes transitions/fluctuations of microtubules between coherent and incoherent states. A significant relationship between the fluctuation function of microtubules and alpha-EEG diagrams is elaborated on in this paper. We argue that the role of biophotons in the brain merits special attention.
