The Role of Conscious Attention and Prior Knowledge in Quantum Measurement Collapse
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.2782Keywords:
Consciousness, Quantum Mechanics, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Measurement problem, Mental States, Wave function Collapse, Wave-particle DualityAbstract
Quantum mechanics explains how matter and light behave at atomic and subatomic levels. A key principle is that quantum objects can act as both waves and particles (Squires, 1999). Particles exist in a superposition of states until observation causes the wave function to collapse into a single outcome. To investigate this, we must define what qualifies as an "observation" and its role in wave function collapse.
This study explores the concept of measurement from both a physical and philosophical perspective, examining different interpretations of consciousness and how observation influences the outcomes of quantum experiments. More specifically, it focuses on how mental states, such as expectation or previous knowledge could impact wave function collapse. Complementing the existing body of research, this review expands to explore several critical questions surrounding the nature of observation in quantum mechanics.
The study conducted a literature review to establish the theoretical background and relevance. Forty-five participants (ages 13+) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: Expectation/Attention, Neutral observation, or Automated control. Each group observed 100 random binary outcomes generated the Expectation group instructed to mentally focus on increasing the number of 1s. The experiment was conducted using PsychoPy. A statistical analysis using ANOVA and post-hoc tests revealed significant group differences, particularly between the Neutral group and the others.
The Expectation group had the highest median (63), the Neutral group the lowest (57), and the Control group in between. Variability was highest in the Expectation group, with no outliers detected. ANOVA showed significant differences (p = 0.000014), and Tukey’s HSD found the Neutral group significantly differed from the others. Effect size (η² = 0.64) indicates a large, meaningful difference.
Preliminary results suggest conscious expectation may influence quantum outcomes. The increased variability in the Expectation group implies that mental states could modulate measurement.
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