Consciousness beyond vegitative state

Recently published results on consciousness in vegetative state of a patient gives some understanding on how the awareness still remain active even in the state of deep sleep or vegetative state of a patient. Cambridge researchers have found that the there is a network of neurons which tracks and stores the information while a patient in vegetative state. This results advances the understanding of consciousness in relation to neurons.

I was wondering whether this results can be some how analysed to infer the origin of consciousness. The origin of consciousness is the fundamental problems that have kept most of the neuroscientists amazed. Still the clear view on whether the brain itself produces consciousness(awareness) or there is a separate entity which uses the brain for consciousness communication with the material nature. 

Following links are the news and article on the results:

http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/scientists-find-hidden-brain-signatures-of-consciousness-in-vegetative-state-patients

http://www.ploscompbiol.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003887

Jaynarayan, Bangalore, India

OrchOR Theory and Recent News

Whenever I feel fresh and happy I take a break from daily work and wonder around the realm of consciousness research that is going on currently around the world. Many prominent researchers are seriously trying to understand a set of mysteries on consciousness.

I was reading the recently published papers on "quantum vibration inside the microtubules"[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140116085105.htm] which supports the theory proposed by Penrose and Hamerrof long back. The theory states that the consciousness which manifest through the brain is originating some where from the deeper level of microtubule. The theory suggest that inside the microtubule there is a quantum mechanical phenomena taking place and that causes the manifestation of consciousness at macroscopic level. The theory is technically called are OrchOR-Orchestrated objective reduction. I really could not understand the theory with technical details, but got the idea that where they are looking at and what is the principles that it follows.

The work I believe will provide more insight detail about the origin of consciousness as well how the consciousness get transmitted through neurons to the different organs of the body. I still have doubt whether the work will solve the origin problem or not. I mean, can this work tell us whether the consciousness is entirely different from the neurons or it is just the complex quantum mechanical function of group of neurons. This is a very basic quest which clear up so many things. We observe lot many phenomena related to thinking, willing, feeling, and there are emotions like happiness, sorrow etc which are not yet know whether they are function of neurons or they are altogether different entity? I am not sure how to ask the questions on OrchOR theory whether the progress of theory can tell something on these phenomena.

One thing I observed is that in India we do not have any serious effort on this area of research. But I feel this is a quite interesting are of research which can answer most important question that we human being been asking.

Jaynarayan, Bangalore, India