FMT asserts that mind is fundamental and that mind and matter combine into more complex forms at each scale of matter.  This means that kinesin have molecular scale minds that control their molecular scale bodies.  This discussion will explain the FMT hypothesis for how minds can influence the behavior of matter, starting at the quantum scale.

 

Developing a Quantum Framework for FMT

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    The next three paragraphs are repeated from the Molecular Mind discussion, which explain why assumptions embedded within mainstream quantum theory prevent the theory from explaining how kinesin can walk. 

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     The properties and behaviors of atoms and molecules are described by quantum physics, the branch of science that models the behavior of the smallest known bits of matter and energy in the universe.  Quantum theory and quantum mechanics are a set of rules and analytical tools to predict the “range of possible properties” of a quantum system when it is measured or observed.  It cannot predict the outcome of any single measurement with any precision whatsoever as it is limited to predicting the statistical distribution of possible outcomes across a series of experiments. The 1st key takeaway is that quantum theory is fundamentally indeterminate.

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     A foundational assumption in quantum theory is that the behavior of quantum scale matter is “random” in nature.  The assumption of randomness is just that, an assumption, one that has not been empirically proven to be valid.  What has been empirically deduced is that when performing a large number of experiments, such as sending a beam of electrons or photons through a double slit apparatus, the particles will over time produce a statistical distribution of impacts on a detector screen, resulting in an interference pattern that illustrates the wave-like nature of matter and energy.  The 2nd key takeaway is that quantum indeterminacy is assumed to be driven by random processes.

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     If the indeterminate behavior of quantum scale matter is truly driven by random processes as posited in mainstream quantum theory, then the theory can offer no explanation for the control of ATP and Kinesin that we are searching for.  It is simply unscientific to assume that random quantum processes can produce the precise timing and coordination of thousands of kinesin walking on microtubule within each cell, run at speeds of up to 100 steps per second, orchestrate kinesin picking up materials, navigating the vast network of microtubules to deliver each load of cargo where it is needed, and to detect the presence of other kinesin and change lanes to avoid a collision.  Something fundamental is missing from modern science in order to explain the seemingly intelligent behaviors of billions of molecules engaging in millions of complex processes every second to execute the symphony of life at the subcellular scale.  To find a way to explain kinesin walking will require a challenge to quantum orthodoxy.  We will start with its deepest mystery, the observer problem.

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​Defining Mind as an Observer in FMT

 

     The central mystery in quantum physics is called the “observer problem”, which involves the difficulty in explaining why quantum scale matter behaves differently when being observed versus not being observed.  This mystery is also referred to as the “measurement problem” where quantum scale matter behaves differently when being measured versus not being measured.  It is the act of observation or measurement of a quantum system that physicists view as “collapsing the wave function” of the system, resulting in one of many possible outcomes to manifest into a single definite result.  At the moment of observation or measurement, the wave equations that describe the quantum system cease to represent the current state of the system, thus the relevance of the equations “collapse” in oblivion.  That matter behaves differently when being observed or measured is not mere speculation, it is a hard scientific fact backed up by a century of quantum physics experiments.  Quantum physics has proven that observing or measuring quantum scale matter influences the behavior of the matter. 

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     Many mysteries such as the famous double slit experiment, delayed choice experiment, and the collapse of the wave function all have the observer problem at their core.  Numerous quantum paradoxes such as Schrodinger’s Cat, Wigner’s Friend, and the Frauchiger-Renner paradox are all also deeply rooted in the observer problem.  The central theme that connects most if not all quantum mysteries and paradoxes is the fact that quantum theory does not explicitly incorporate observers or measurements into its formalisms.  In fact, quantum theory lacks definitions for what constitutes an observer, an observation, a measurement device, and even what counts as a measurement.  Quantum theory lacks definitions for key terms in its central mystery which leads to paradoxes.  

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     The observer problem is the only place in the entirety of physics that even hints at a possible connection between mind and matter, where the simple act of observation influences the behavior of matter.  Interpreting this hint from the FMT perspective leads to the assertion that mind can function as an observer.  Since observing matter influences its behavior, defining mind as an observer means that mind can influence the behavior of matter.  Since FMT asserts that mind is embedded within matter at all scales, mind can influence the behavior of its matter structure from the quantum scale to the human scale.  This brings us to the question of how minds, or observers, are able to influence matter within the boundaries of known scientific theory?  To answer this questions requires challenging other assumptions within quantum physics, essentially creating a new quantum framework for FMT.

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Embracing the Wave Nature of Matter Makes the Quantum Realm Comprehensible

 

     Attempting to explain wave function collapse has led to many philosophers and physicists to engage in wild speculation about the nature of reality, from believing the moon does not exist unless someone is looking at it, to infinite copies of each us living in infinite parallel universes, to denying that objective reality even exists.  These views treat wave functions as real phenomena that exist in our universe whereas FMT views wave functions as mathematical models of the behavior of things that exist in our universe.  Matter, energy, mind, and forces exist in the universe.  Wave functions and wave function collapse are not real in FMT. 

 

     FMT takes the evidence from scientific experiments and combines it with evidence from human subjective experience, assuming that where they overlap likely points the way towards better theories of mind and reality more broadly.   Since wave functions are mathematical models and there is zero scientific evidence for a multiverse, FMT asserts that we live in a single universe, with matter that has a real existence independent of whether or not anyone is observing it.  Minds also exist in our universe.  Renee Descartes' famous saying "I think therefore I am" acknowledges the obvious fact that our mind is the only thing that each of us can be 100% sure exists.  The only thing each of us can be sure exists, our mind, is also the observer that is living each of our lives.  That our minds can functions as an observer sits on a robust foundation of scientific evidence and does not violate any known scientific laws.  It also intuitively explains the human experience of feeling as if we have free will, something that modern physics rejects because it is built upon the assumption of metaphysical materialism.  

 

    Let's take a closer look at what scientists have learned about elementary particles and wave function collapse.  Elementary particles are modeled using wave equations, implying that their intrinsic nature is wave-like versus particle-like.  Quantum scale phenomena appear to our scientific instruments as energy patterns that lack any physical dimensions, have no defined position or momentum, can become entangled with one another, and may or may not have mass.  The subset of elementary particles that form stable matter all have mass and will be referred to as matter waves in this discussion.  Matter waves are spread out over a region of space and their behaviors are described mathematically by the Schrodinger wave equation.  When our scientific instruments attempt to measure any properties of matter waves, they extract energy which appears as "particles" that suddenly have definite and measurable properties.  Particles only last for the duration of the energy extraction process, after which they revert back to their intrinsic wave nature . The fact that matter sometimes appears as a particle and sometimes as a wave is called wave-particle duality.  

 

     A human scale analogy is to consider a particle as similar to a lightning bolt.  A set of wave equations can be written to describe the matter waves that form a storm cloud creating an electromagnetic field relative to the earth below that is spread out over the cloud's 3D structure.  The field strength at each point will vary as the cloud absorbs water vapor, changes shape, and drifts over the uneven contours of the earth (i.e. taller and metallic objects are more likely to attract lightning thus impact relative field strength at each point in the cloud).  At some point the electromagnetic field strength exceeds the insulation strength of the atmosphere between two specific points in the cloud and earth, and a lightning bolt is generated to discharge some of the cloud's electromagnetic energy to the earth.  The lightning bolt appears briefly, carries a specific and measurable amount of energy, and follows a specific and measurable path to the earth.  The cloud is similar to a matter wave spread out over a region of space lacking specific and measurable properties, and the lightning bolt is similar to a particle that has specific and measurable properties but only appears briefly during an energy transfer event.

 

     This analogy is relevant because lightning bolts are actually made of massive streams of electrons, which are matter waves that behave according to the principles and equations of quantum theory.  Lightning bolts are literally high energy macroscopic quantum energy transfer events. Electrons in a storm cloud behave the same as in quantum experiments, they are spread out over a region of space in their intrinsic matter wave state, and appear only briefly as particles when a lightning bolt or measurement device extracts energy from the quantum system.  In the storm cloud analogy the earth acts as a giant measurement device extracting energy from a quantum system, causing particles to appear in the form of a lightning bolt.  Prior to the lightning strike, the lightning bolt could be viewed as existing in a superposition of many lightning bolts that could transfer energy to many different places on earth, analogous to an electron existing in a superposition of many electrons that could transfer energy to many different places in space.. 

 

     The wave equations describing the lightning bolt or electron in the quantum experiment, will suddenly "collapse" and become useless because they no longer describe the current state of the quantum system once a lightning bolt or particle appears in a measurement event.  When a measurement occurs, matter waves "collapse" from their intrinsic spread out state in order to concentrate and transfer a portion of their energy to the measurement device, which always transfers in specific quanta of energy and at a specific point in space and time, causing our instruments to detect a particle in the classical sense. Particles are short-lived like lightning bolts, existing only momentarily during energy exchange events. The energy transfer changes the overall energy and trajectory of the matter wave, rendering moot the wave equations that previously described the quantum system.  

     Embracing the wave nature of quantum scale matter means accepting that matter waves exist is an undefined spread out state, concentrating some or all of their energy at a specific point to transfer energy to another matter wave creating what we detect as particles.  The idea that particles or lightning bolts exist in a "superposition of states" is an antiquated view leftover from the classical physics era when particles were considered to be tiny 3D objects that had permanent existence.  Neither particles nor lightning bolts have permanent existence and matter waves lack measurable properties.  When particles are said to being in a superposition existing at many places at once, it is referring to the intrinsic wave state of the particle that is spread out over a region of space.  Neither particles nor lightning bolts literally exist in multiple places at the same time, but their energy is indeed spread out over a region of space.​

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Quantum Theory Models the Degrees of Freedom of the Mind of a Quantum System

 

    FMT views quantum wave equations as representing our knowledge of the state of a quantum system between measurements or observations.  Wave function collapse therefore represents an update to our knowledge of the specific properties the system had when a measurement or observation occurs.  Between measurements or observations the specific properties of a quantum system are unknowable because the energy of matter waves is spread out over a region of space.  If we apply this view to the famous Schrodinger's cat paradox, the cat is never alive "and" dead at the same time, it is always either alive "or" dead.  It is Schrodinger's knowledge of the state of his cat that exists in a superposition of possible states since he has not updated his knowledge of the state of the cat since he placed the cat in the box and put the lid on.  He then updates his knowledge by opening the box and looking inside, where hopefully he learns that his cat is still alive.​​

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​     Defining mind as an observer that can influence the behavior of matter waves is the FMT explanation for how kinesin can walk.  Kinesin have molecular scale minds that can control their molecular scale bodies.  Quantum theory should be viewed as a set of tools and rules to predict the “degrees of freedom of movement" that the mind of a quantum system may have pursued since it was last observed or measured, not a measure of the randomness inherent in the quantum system.  Mind influencing the behavior of its matter structure provides the missing ingredient to explain the complex behavior of molecules inside cells such as kinesin. 

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Human Scale Evidence that Mind Can Influence the Behavior of Matter

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    The placebo effect demonstrates that fake drugs and fake treatments can positively impact the healing ability of the human body at the cellular scale.  Fake drugs (placebos) have been found to positively impact a patient's condition even though the patient received a sugar pill or other non-medical substance that should have no impact on the patient's condition. Placebos are the gold standard control group in all drug and medical treatment testing worldwide, a scientifically validated fact that sits at the core of the $1.7 trillion global pharmaceutical industry. 

 

     A patient is given a fake pill but believe they are receiving a new drug developed to treat their condition. Other patients are given the new drug being tested.  Somehow both patient groups experience improvement in their conditions, a phenomena called the placebo effect.  This effect demonstrates that what our minds believes can influence the behavior of our bodies.  Our minds can influence our cell's ability to heal.  Colored pills produce a stronger placebo effect than white pills.  Also red, yellow, and orange placebo pills produce a stimulant effect while blue and green placebo pills produce a tranquilizing effect.  Larger placebo pills produce a greater effect than smaller ones, two pills greater than a single pill, placebo injections produce a greater effect than pills, and so on.  

 

     Neither patient nor doctor knows which is getting the real drug versus the placebo, a "double blind protocol" developed because it was found that the strength of the placebo effect was less if the doctors administering the drug tests knew which patient gets the drug versus placebo.  Think about that, if a doctor knowingly gives you a placebo but you think it's a new drug, the placebo will have a stronger effect than if the doctor had no knowledge of which you received.  The double blind protocol prevents the doctor's mind from influencing the behavior of the patient's body, a phenomena that feels more like ESP than hard science, yet the double blind protocol has been found to be essential to all drug testing.

 

     The placebo effect is estimated to account for 30% to 60% of the benefit of the average drug, yet there is no scientific theory explaining how the placebo effect works.  Nor is there much research activity trying to understand the placebo effect nor the need for the double blind protocol.  It is striking that the central scientific fact that lies at the heart of one of the largest and most scientifically advanced industries on earth is that the mind can influence matter.​

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Conclusion​​

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     The observer effect is supported by a massive body of evidence demonstrating that simply observing quantum scale matter influences the behavior of matter.  Since “Mind equals Observer” in FMT, quantum scale mind can therefore influence the behavior of quantum scale matter.  The placebo effect is supported by a massive body of evidence at the human scale demonstrating that what a human mind believes can influence the behavior of the human body at the cellular scale.  That mind can influence matter at both the human and quantum scales makes it not much of a stretch to assert that mind can also influence matter in the scales in between, which is precisely what FMT asserts, that mind can influence matter at all scales.

 

     Returning to our molecular mind example, a kinesin's molecular scale mind controls its molecular scale body.  Watch the video above one more time and consider whether the kinesin appears to be controlling its body.  Now consider whether the kinesin's ability to control its body is driven by random quantum processes that would cause random movements of its atoms, or whether the kinesin is more likely to have some rudimentary form of intelligence and cognition.  The amazing set of skills demonstrated by kinesin can best be explained by assuming that kinesin have minds that control their atomic scale bodies, similar to how our human minds control our massively more multicellular bodies. 

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     The collective mind of any given matter structure can influence the behavior of its constituent atoms, molecules, and/or cells.   FMT believes that the electromagnetic field that surrounds and pervades every matter structure is the likely substrate that enables this influence.  Kinesin has the collective mind of its constituent elementary particles, which are electromagnetically combined to form its molecular scale body and mind as discussed in our proposed solution to the Mind Combination Problem on this website.  Kinesin control their own physical structures to enable walking, navigation, changing lanes to avoid a collision, and so forth.  The mind of a kinesin is the causal agent driving its behaviors as it performs its duties in support of the continued survival of the overall cellular ecosystem.

 

     The complex and seemingly intelligent behavior of the billions of molecules inside each cell is extremely difficult if not impossible to explain with existing science.  Unless and until a scientific theory is developed that explains how these complex behaviors are being controlled and orchestrated, the most logical hypothesis that explains the evidence is that molecules have cognition and agency indicative of a molecular scale mind.  The rapidly increasing evidence of highly complex and precisely coordinated molecular activity inside cells is evidence that molecules are intelligent, have awareness of their surroundings, communicate and coordinate their actions with other molecules to keep their shared cellular ecosystem functioning properly.  FMT concludes that molecules have minds.​​