Computers can store structures designed to be mathematically similar to quantum information too (see [0] for example). It doesn't mean that computers can efficiently perform quantum computations. If there's evidence that humans can efficiently solve problems in BQP [1] complexity class, like cracking RSA encryption, I'd like to hear it.

[0] http://quantum-studio.net/ [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BQP

I don't know of an example from BQP, but 3d protein folding is NP-complete and humans have outperformed computers at protein folding. Although I don't know how you'd even directly compare humans and computers. I suppose that's a big part of what this article is grappling with.

The interesting thing to me is not if humans can solve exactly the same problems as quantum computers with lots of qubits (Quantum computers are not the identical to all of quantum theory!) The interesting question to me is if humans can hold and pass around irreducibly probabilistic states without collapsing them.

Contemplation of brain cloning and consciousness creates a feeling of paradox, then no-cloning theorem comes to mind. Right?

If it is indeed your line of reasoning, I don't understand how it is supposed to work. If the quantum state doesn't influence macroscopic behavior, then it's useless. If it does, then it will collapse.

I was being unclear. I'm wondering if the brain might hold probabilistic states for extended ("macroscopic") periods of time so that they can be observed/collapsed later, but not immediately.

A glass of water contains quantum information, too, doesn't mean it obviates that information other than by being just a glass of water.

The general hypothesis could be made nearly certain by a savant able to mentally factor sufficiently large numbers, or break elliptic curve cryptography. The only not-quantum possibility would be the unlikely case that these problems are solvable classically.

That's an interesting link — a priori it seems quite implausible because the brain is so warm and most quantum computers run near absolute zero.

> it strikes me to be an uncannily "classical" question.

Even if the brain is quantum, it's still a valid question. Some quantum degrees of freedom are discrete, like spin, while others like position are continuous.

I guess my point is that discrete observables can have continuous wave functions.

Thanks for the quant article. I would not be surprised at all if consciousness ends up being a quantum phenomenon. I say that as a cogneuro guy, but with no training in quantum mechanics, so pinch of salt and all.

My feeling is it's something more advanced than Quantum Theory we haven't discovered yet ;-) Like when humans had no clue about radioactivity and once we were able to measure it, many things started to make sense.