Part 7/9:
Central to the dialogue was the critique of prevalent computational models of consciousness. While these models often rely on oversimplified depictions of neurons, the speaker challenged the audience to recognize the limitations of viewing the brain merely as a computational unit. Instead, it advocates for an understanding rooted in the intricate properties of living cells—specifically microtubules and their oscillatory behavior.
The speaker championed the Orchestrated Objective Reduction (Orch OR) theory, co-developed by Roger Penrose and himself, which integrates quantum mechanics into our understanding of consciousness. This approach stands at odds with mainstream neuroscience perspectives yet offers a potentially fertile ground for future research.