Could quantum phenomena, such as superposition and entanglement, play a role in neural processes, such as synaptic transmission, and cognitive functions like perception or decision-making? This is the central question at the intersection of quantum mechanics and neuroscience. It has long been assumed that quantum properties are not important to neural function because of the noisy and warm environment inside biological organisms. However, over the last decade, experimental evidence emerged suggesting that quantum effects may indeed play a role in biology, and brain function in particular. Quantum biological phenomena in enzyme catalysis [1], photosynthesis [2,3], and avian magnetoreception [4,5] are the most established examples, while demonstrating quantum effects in processes such as olfaction [6] and anesthetics [7] is still an area of active investigation.
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A key challenge is to demonstrate that quantum effects are not merely present, but play a functional role in neural processes, beyond what can be explained by classical mechanisms. Such research is not only interesting for its potential to revolutionize our understanding of the brain, but also for its potential applications when combined with quantum computing, quantum sensing, and transduction between them. One could imagine deploying quantum computers for sophisticated real-time sensing and control of neural function, which in turn would enable novel human-computer interfaces as well as an entirely new field of medicine. To give an example, historically, nuclear spins have been used as antennas to image biological tissue, as in MRI, but new results suggest that they might also be useful as controls for manipulating neural function. Recent research has also shown that quantum computers will provide an advantage for machine learning with quantum data, so quantum sensors might also be combined with quantum computers for powerful machine-learning-enabled analysis of biological data, potentially leading to advances in research and treatment.
Example proposal focus areas could include (but are not limited to) the below, or some combination thereof:
References
[1] Cha, Y. et al. Hydrogen tunneling in enzyme reactions. Science, 243(4896), 1325-1330 (1989).
[2] Engel, G. S. et al. Evidence for wavelike energy transfer through quantum coherence in photosynthetic systems. Nature 446, 782–786 (2007).
[3] Collini, E. et al. Coherently wired light-harvesting in photosynthetic marine algae at ambient temperature. Nature 463, 644–647 (2010).
[4] Ritz, T., Adem, S. & Schulten, K. A model for photoreceptor-based magnetoreception in birds. Biophys. J. 78, 707–718 (2000).
[5] Rodgers, C. T. & Hore, P. J. Chemical magnetoreception in birds: The radical pair mechanism. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 106, 353–360 (2009).
[6] Turin, L. A spectroscopic mechanism for primary olfactory reception. Chem. Senses 21, 773–791 (1996).
[7] Li, N. et al. Nuclear spin attenuates the anesthetic potency of xenon isotopes in mice: Implications for the mechanisms of anesthesia and consciousness. Anesthesiology 129, 271–277 (2018).
Awards will be approximately $100k, but we may consider larger amounts for exceptional proposals that demonstrate a clear and compelling rationale for the increased funding. Funds will be disbursed as unrestricted gifts to the university or degree-granting research institution and are not intended for overhead or indirect costs.
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