离子通道宏观量子态: 神经信息载体

Neuroscience has been extensively developed for more than seventy years; however, there still remains lack of breakthrough understanding in the neural information field. A quantum coherent state of ion channels is recently proposed in neural system as an information carrier, but its physical expression is still not fixed. Here, employing a simple K⁺ channel as a typical instance, we theoretically build a conceptual model for the quantum state of a neural ion channel and demonstrate the macroscopic coherence state of multiple ion channels. The underlying mechanism is revealed to the mid-infrared photons released by ion oscillation in one ion channel together with their resonant and coherent coupling with the oscillations in other channels. An additional environment field (e.g., brain wave) may regulate the coherence, potentially relating to the human consciousness. Clearly, there exist the channels of other ions in a neural system, which also potentially form a macroscopic coherence state of themselves, with the mechanism identical to that of K⁺ channels. An environment field can be expected to further regulate the quantum states of various ionic channels, leading to a total macroscopic coherence state of these channels, which is like the conductor in a symphony to achieve the harmony in music. These findings are expected to provide a promising viewpoint for neuroscience, as well as to improve treatments of the diseases and health problems related to neural system.[Figure not available: see fulltext.]