Consciousness and Hallucinations: Molecular Considerations and Theoretical Questions

Abstract

This paper focuses on aspects of quantitative and quantum approaches to the phenomenon of hallucination. Consideration is given to the molecular hypothesis of consciousness, to consciousness as perception of the self, and to hallucinatory perception as consciousness detached from reality. The possible transitional sequence viscosity of membrane / GS-alpha protein / tubulin in altered states of consciousness is explored.

Molecular Contiguity between Human and Animal Consciousness through Evolution: Some Considerations

“…We have attempted to reconstruct the involvement of serotonin in animals and men through the connection of the molecular steps that lead to the consciousness hypothesis in agreement with our working hypothesis [21,23] (Figure 2).…”

Considerations on Blood Platelets: A Neuron’s Mirror for Mood Disorders?

“…Therefore, three essential points constitute the issue about the relationship between the cytoskeleton molecular structure and the psychiatric disorder: 1) Serotonin levels 2) Platelet and neuron membrane viscosity 3) The Interactome-Consciousness relationship On this matter and on the relationships between membrane viscosity and interactome, in relation to mood disorders and consciousness, a series of papers has been published [34][35][36][37][38][39].…”

Major Depression and Bipolar Disorder: The Concept of Symmetry Breaking

“…Since the mainstream psychiatric diagnosis features aspects of equivocality, in the recent years several research papers have appeared (Cocchi, 2008;Cocchi, 2010a,b;Cocchi, 2011) describing a quantitative approach to psychiatry and in particular to major depression. Cocchi et al ( 2008) have highlighted the possibility of using the fatty acids as platelet markers in psychiatry describing an experimental protocol for their determination in blood and proposing a mathematical tools such as artificial neural networks (Self Organizing Map-SOM) for the elaboration of data.…”