Empirical Research on the Radical Subjective Solution of the Measurement Problem.

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Empirical Research on the Radical Subjective
Solution of the Measurement Problem.

• .

Does Time get its Direction through Conscious
Observation?
Dick Bierman, University of Amsterdam, Utrecht
University
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Time

• Symmetry in most physical formalisms with 2
  solutions
• Only one (retarded) solution empirically found so
  why bother
• But .

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FEPS 2003
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• Donkers, FCL Boxtel, GJM Van (2005)
• Mediofrontal negativities to averted Gains and
  Losses in the Slot-Machine Task. Journal of
  Psychophysiology, 19 (4)

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SLOT MACHINE
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Method

• Planned 32 Volunteers
• 128 trials
• Each trial Subject pays 0.50 euro
• XXX Win of 7 real euro (p12.5)
• Random with replacement
• Focus on medio frontal leads (Fz, Pz, Cz)
• Preprocessing identical to Donkers et al

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OverAll results

• 1 Subject no usable segments after standard
  preprocessing

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xyz
xxx
xxy
XXY
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Statistics
Mean difference XXX-XXY in S2-S3 interval 1.88
microV (t 2.35 , df31, p 0.026)
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Relation with attention
Effect in microvolts (1000)
Self-rated attention
Note that in neuroscientific literature attention
is often equated with consciousness
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Source of time direction

• Second Law
• However
• Probalistic argument is invalid (Huw Price)
• Boltzmann Anthropocentric?
• Cosmic boundary conditions.
• But what about the irreversible collapse in QP

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Background hunches that resulted in the empirical
work
What cause the collapse anyway? What defines a
measurement?
The measurement problem can be solved by
introducing non linear terms in the formalism
(Ghirardi)
Consciousness arises as soon as non linear
processes occur in the brain (Lamme)
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The Measurement Problemsolutions

• Many World solution (Everett)
• Deterministic solution (Bohm)
• Non linear Schrodinger equation (GRW)
• Objective Reduction (Penrose)
• Radical subjective solution (Wigner, Stapp)

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Radical Solution

• . The reduction of the state vector is a
  physical event which occurs only when there is an
  interaction between the physical measuring
  apparatus and the psyche of some observer..
• from Hall, J., Kim, C., McElroy, and Shimony, A.
  (1977). Wave-packet reduction as a medium of
  communication. Foundations of Physics 7 (1977),
  759-767.

Note that the radical solution is associated with
Schrödingers Cat.
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Quote in Hall et al
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Hall et al experiment
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Assumptions
Final Observer (brain) is sensitive for
difference collapsed and non collapsed Final
Observer can report this
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Weaknesses in Hall

• Delay between first and second observation
• The dependent variable a conscious verbal report

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Improvements in replication

• HALL et al 1977
• Delay few microseconds
• Dependent variable verbal report

• Amsterdam 2002
• Delay 1000 msecs
• Dependent variable brain signals

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Amsterdam set-up
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Amsterdam set-up
Dependent variable brainwaves of final observer
Pseudorandom switch between conditions
Pre-observed - not pre-observed
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procedure movie here
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Analysis procedure

• Predetermined we only analyse peak amplitudes.
• We also apply non-parametric statistics (because
  of non normality of the distribution of data)

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Results pooled over condition
N200
N160
P100
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Results split for condition(preobserved and
not-preobserved)
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RESULTS peak analysis
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Control analysis

• Split data randomly rather than according to Exp.
  Condition and repeat analysis.
• Effectsizes are on the average an order of
  magnitude smaller and statistically non
  significant

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Conclusions
Bohr

• Copenhagen interpretation supported
• God plays dice
• And Consciousness stands outside of quantum
  physics (dualism) or must be considered a hidden
  variable with non local aspects
• But wait a minute Strong claims need strong
  evidence..

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Replication set up
Alpha source
GM detector
Count down clock
EEG amplifiers
Trigger-in
delay
Audio-beep
Final Observer
Computer
Visual pre-observation for 50 of the events
Pre Observer
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Results averaged over 4 conditions
(classical-quantum, preobserved- not preobserved)
4 clusters of electrodes
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(No Transcript)
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No pre-observation effect

• But

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An effect of source of events (Quantum vs Classic)
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Was the (pre) Observation Conscious

• It was less specific than in experiment 1

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New experiments

• More information to pre-observer
• - e.g. was the source quantum or classic
• Meaning of event
• - creating a story?
• Unification of Observer and pre-observer

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Review
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Amsterdam 1
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Amsterdam 2
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Amsterdam 3
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Amsterdam 4
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Thanks for your attention