Quantum Biology- How Cellular Function can Affect Every Aspect of Your World

Disclaimer

The quantum world is complex and highly debated. My goal is to attempt to simplify the research coming out around quantum biology and apply the findings to our everyday lives – through the perspective of a somatic mental health therapist!

In the quest to understand the nature of our existence and the universe, scientists have made quantum biology their newest frontier. This emerging field seeks to apply principles of quantum physics to biological systems, creating a unique intersection between the physical and life sciences. The implications of this research could revolutionize our understanding of consciousness and could potentially reshape our mental health practices.

The Quantum World

If you’re thinking of Ant-Man, you’re on the right track! At the core of quantum lies the concept of quantum superposition, where particles exist in multiple states simultaneously until someone looks at them. The most famous example of this is “Schrödinger’s cat”, where a cat placed in a box with a potentially lethal radioactive substance could, according to quantum mechanics, exist in a superposition of being both dead and alive the whole time, until the box is opened and its contents observed. On a biological level, this could be applied as “Schrödinger’s bacterium”, where a cell can exist in a superposition of performing multiple functions until it is observed.

Another key concept is quantum entanglement – which implies an interconnectedness of particles that goes beyond the boundaries of time and space. In other words, pairs or groups of heart and liver cells can become intertwined in such a way that one particle’s performance can instantly influence the state of the other, no matter how far apart they are. This phenomenon challenges the traditional notion of separateness and locality.

These two concepts (quantum superposition and entanglement) set the stage for the possible quantum effects in biology.

Quantum Biology: Where Physics Meets Life

Quantum biology is scientists’ attempt to explain what classical laws of physics cannot in nature. It recognizes that the fundamental building blocks of life, electrons, protons, chemical bonds and DNA, operate at a macro, micro, and quantum level. By applying what we know about quantum mechanics, quantum biology seeks to unravel the mysteries of cellular processes and find meaning to the very fabric of life itself.

Quantum Tunneling: Breaking Through Barriers 

One of the most intriguing ideas in quantum biology is quantum tunneling. In classical physics, particles (objects) are constrained by energetic or physical barriers that prevent their movement. However, at the quantum level, particles can travel through these barriers, defying classical expectations.

Within biological systems, quantum tunneling plays a vital role in electron and proton transfer, enabling crucial processes like enzymatic reactions and cellular respiration. If parts of a cell need support, others will lend themselves while maintaining their original function.

Quantum Biology Applied:

Photosynthesis, the process where plants convert sunlight into energy, is a tangible example of quantum effects in biological systems. Through the intricate dance plants do to harvest light, where energy interacts with multiple pathways simultaneously, they are able to optimize energy transfer.

Think of yourself like a plant, except you don’t turn green. Whether it be sunlight or beef liver, when we consume energy, our cells then take that energy to perform various jobs. Quantum biology suggests the same cell will simultaneously perform multiple jobs at once and lend itself to other cells that aren’t performing optimally.

Nutrition and Lifestyle

At this point you may still be wondering how exactly do your cells working as designed affect your day-to-day. Think of your chronic condition, whether autoimmune, obesity, cardiovascular dysfunction, mental health, etc., as chaos. When you improve the type of energy you consume and optimize the utilization of that energy, you are providing order to your chaos.

Applying the concept of quantum entanglement – instantaneous cause and effect – if your minerals and vitamins are imbalanced, your cells are unable to function at their best. If your cells are not functioning well, your major organs (brain, heart, lungs, liver) will adapt to the imbalance by any means necessary. Quantum biology proposes that our life-giving systems are interconnected and have an interdependent relationship beyond their typical functions. 

In other words, what you eat, how you live, and your environment all contribute to functional or dysfunctional living.  

Mental Health and Consciousness

Communion, community, and fellowship are major aspects of humanness. We are communal, social creatures by nature and crave connections with others. The quantum world takes this concept of interconnectedness, magnifies it, and applies it to the smallest components of what makes up our world (ie. Atoms, cells, particles, electrons, protons, neutrons).

If there is a part of your life, nutrition, habits/behaviors, or environment that is out of balance or in chaos, it can lead to countless physical and mental symptoms like anxiety, depression, and autoimmune disorders.

As a somatic (body) therapist, I think it’s helpful to use traditional psychology concepts and incorporate other scientific notions into consideration when working on myself and with others. Quantum physics and biology tells us not one thing operates in isolation, everything we consume, think, and do contributes to the experiences of our past, present, and future.

Our journey through quantum represents a paradigm shift in our understanding of life itself. By embracing the connections between quantum physics and biology, we maintain an openness to the mysteries of cellular function and expand the potential within our living systems. From photosynthesis to nutrition and consciousness, quantum effects reach throughout every aspect of our world. As scientists continue to investigate the intricacies of quantum biology, we stand on the precipice of a quantum revolution; poised to reshape our future and unlock the limitless possibilities that lie within. Our understanding of the mind-body connection is approaching new heights, illuminating a world where quantum can help re-shape how we view the world.

Sources + Resources:

Atmanspacher, Harald, “Quantum approaches to consciousness”, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2020 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = <https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2020/entries/qt-consciousness/>.

Busemeyer, J., & Wang, Z. (2015). What Is quantum cognition, and how is it applied to psychology? Current directions in psychological science : A Journal of the American Psychological Society, 24(3), 163-169.

Campagne, D. M. (2019). Quantum physics and the future of psychology. The Journal of Mind and Behavior, 40(3/4), 213–224. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26904002.

O’Callaghan, J. (2018, October 29). “Schrödinger’s Bacterium” could be a quantum biology milestone. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/schroedingers-bacterium-could-be-a-quantum-biology-milestone/.

Picard, M. & McEwen, B. (2018). Psychological Stress and Mitochondria: A Systematic Review. Psychosomatic Medicine, 80 (2), 141-153. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000545.

Schwartz JM, Stapp HP, Beauregard M. Quantum physics in neuroscience and psychology: a neurophysical model of mind-brain interaction. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2005 Jun 29;360(1458):1309-27. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2004.1598. PMID: 16147524; PMCID: PMC1569494.

Verny, T. R. (2020). The brain-mind conundrum: The rise of quantum biology. Journal of Prenatal & Perinatal Psychology & Health, 34(3), 191-215.