A quantum theory for the irreplaceable role of docosahexaenoic acid in neural cell signalling throughout evolution

Crawford, Mike; Broadhurst, C. Leigh; Guest, Martin; Nagar, Atulya K.; Wang, Yiqun; Ghebremeskel, Kebreab; Schmidt, Walter F.

doi:10.1016/j.plefa.2012.08.005

Cited by 82 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Alterations in fatty acids are of etiological interest, because they are essential components of all outer and subcellular cell membranes (Crawford et al 2013;Assies et al 2014). This is represented by their widespread associations with other pathophysiological systems including biological stress (HPA-axis and oxidative stress), inflammation, and brain network structure and function.…”

Section: Integration Of Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…DHA has been proposed to possess unique properties on a quantum level. In detail, the molecular structure of DHA with its unique six double bonds is thought to facilitate quantum tunneling of electrons across the membrane (Crawford et al 2013), allowing for precise depolarization of membranes with a high DHA content. This may be essential for cells where rapid and precise depolarization of the membrane is crucial for adequate cell functioning, such as neurons and retinal cells.…”

Section: Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thereby, DHA's properties may explain its extreme conservation -i.e., very high concentrations relative to the rest of the body -in the synapse and retina. Moreover, consequently, the development of oxidative metabolism allowing for synthesis of highly unsaturated fatty acid as DHA, has been hypothesized to be a driving facilitator of brain development through evolution (Crawford et al 2013). The precise neuroscientific and clinical consequences of these exciting ideas have yet to be investigated further.…”

Section: Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Focus on fatty acids in the neurometabolic pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders

Mocking

Assies

Ruhé

et al. 2018

J of Inher Metab Disea

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Continuous research into the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders, such as major depressive disorder (MDD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and schizophrenia, suggests an important role for metabolism. This narrative review will provide an upto-date summary of how metabolism is thought to be involved in the pathophysiology of these psychiatric disorders. We will focus on (I) the important role of fatty acids in these metabolic alterations, (II) whether fatty acid alterations represent epiphenomena or risk factors, and (III) similarities and dissociations in fatty acid alterations between different psychiatric disorders. (Historical) epidemiological evidence links fatty acid intake to psychiatric disorder prevalence, corroborated by altered fatty acid concentrations measured in psychiatric patients. These fatty acid alterations are connected with other concomitant pathophysiological mechanisms, including biological stress (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis and oxidative stress), inflammation, and brain network structure and function. Metabolomics and lipidomics studies are underway to more deeply investigate this complex network of associated neurometabolic alterations. Supplementation of fatty acids as disease-modifying nutraceuticals has clinical potential, particularly add-on eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in depressed patients with markers of increased inflammation. However, by interpreting the observed fatty acid alterations as partly (mal)adaptive phenomena, we attempt to nuance translational expectations and provide new clinical applications for these novel neurometabolic insights, e.g., to predict treatment response or depression recurrence. In conclusion, placing fatty acids in context can contribute to further understanding and optimized treatment of psychiatric disorders, in order to diminish their overwhelming burden of disease.

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Section: Integration Of Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Focus on fatty acids in the neurometabolic pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders

Mocking

Assies

Ruhé

et al. 2018

J of Inher Metab Disea

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“…Effectively it is upside down. We have proposed the reason for this apparent anomaly, is that the forest of back ends facing the light ensures the photons act as waves rather than particles, analogous with Young's double slit experiment (Crawford et al, 2013).…”

Section: Chaos Theory and Determinismmentioning

confidence: 90%

A theory on the role of π-electrons of docosahexaenoic acid in brain function

Crawford

Thabet

Wang

et al. 2018

OCL

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-Background: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been the dominant acyl component of the membrane phosphoglycerides in neural signaling systems since the origin of the eukaryotes. In this paper, we propose, this extreme conservation, is explained by its special electrical properties. Based on the Pauli Exclusion Principle we offer an explanation on how its six methylene interrupted double-bonds provide a special arrangement of π-electrons that offer an absolute control for the precision of the energy of the signal. Precision is not explained by standard concepts of ion movement or synaptic strengthening by enhanced protein synthesis. Yet precision is essential to visual acuity, truthful recall and the exercise of a dedicated neural pathway. Concept: Synaptic membranes have been shown to actively incorporate DHA with a high degree of selectivity. During a learning process, this biomagnification will increase the proportion of membrane DHA with two consequential neuronal and synaptic enhancements which build into a David Marr type model of the real world: DHA induced gene expression resulting in enhanced protein synthesis; increased density of π-electrons which could provide memory blocks and provide for the preferential flow of a current in neural pathways. Proposal: Both the above imply memory from synaptic strengthening. We propose memory is achieved by the activation of neuronal synaptic activation with synaptic turnover resulting in enhanced membrane DHA, which in turn induces gene expression, protein synthesis and π-electron density. Repetition amplifies the process activating synapses, which form a matrix representing the memory. The electro-chemical potentials then fire the electrons as electromagnetic waves via the six methylene interrupted double bonds. These allow transmission at a specific energy level based on their quantum mechanical properties providing the precision required for faithful recall. It is difficult to conceive of protein synthesis alone providing for precision. Using the principle of the dual properties of photons and electrons we develop the idea of complex wave patterns representing the visual or auditory fields. These are likely to be noncomputable. We suggest that harmonization of the electromagnetic waves can result in cohesion explaining recall and associations. The cohesion of electromagnetic flow leads to a surge above the resting level, which is recognized by the brain as, demonstrated in artificial, electrical stimulus during neurosurgery.Keywords: chaos theory / docosahexaenoic acid / π-electrons / signal precision / quantum mechanics / memory / cognition / perception Résumé -Une théorie sur le rôle des électrons π de l'acide docosahexaénoïque dans la fonction cérébrale. Les six doubles liaisons interrompues par un groupe méthylène et la précision de la signalisation neuronale. Introduction : Depuis l'origine des eucaryotes, l'acide docosahexaénoïque (DHA) est l'acide gras majoritaire des phosphoglycérides des membranes dans les systèmes neuronaux de signalisation. Dans ...

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“…However, the docosapentaenoic acid, a precursor with one less double bond, cannot be made planar (Crawford et al, 1999). As far as we know to date, docosapentaenoic acid has never replaced docosahexaenoic acid in the photoreceptor, synapse and neurons throughout the evolution of the eukaryotes (Crawford et al, 2013).…”

Section: Excitabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

An introduction to a theory on the role of π-electrons of docosahexaenoic acid in brain function

Crawford

Thabet

Wang

2018

OCL

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-In Part I, we discuss the background to views on brain function and our thesis that it is conducted by π-electrons which perform sensory reception, memory, action, cognition and consciousness. Our thesis is consistent with the classical views of ion movement and synaptic protein strengthening. However, protein based views contain no element of precision for the signal. Precision is essential for true signal transduction of sensory input and the faithful execution of learnt neural pathways. In Part II, we incorporate these principles to discuss the mechanism whereby electron function adds precision of signal energy to the process through the Pauli Exclusion Principle. The Huxley-Hodgkin (HH) account of neural function describes the movement of sodium, potassium and calcium ions to create electrochemical potentials across membranes with well-established mathematical and experimental support. To explain learning, consciousness and perception, others have claimed brain function depends on protein synthesis or RNA coding. Some consider super position and collapse as the computational mechanism. This however is fragile with no mechanism described to protect from natural collapse and decoherence at the temperatures of the brain. A novel approach was adopted by Penrose and Hammeroff who describe consciousness as a function of ʻobjective reduction' (ʻOR') of the quantum state. This orchestrated OR activity (ʻOrch OR') is taken to result in moments of conscious awareness and/or choice (Hameroff S, Penrose R. 2014 Consciousness in the universe: a review of the ʻOrch OR' theory. Phys Life Rev 11(1): 39-78. Doi: 10.1016/j.plrev.2013.08.002. Epub 2013. Orch-OR operates in principle in protein tubules of neurons. This concept is non-computational and has received much attention with a convincing advocacy and its share of criticism. The advocacy includes the fossil record of organisms that emerged throughout the first Cambrian period with onset roughly 540 million years ago (mya). They had essential degrees of microtubular arrays in skeletal size, complexity and capability for quantum isolation. Attractive as this hypothesis maybe we point out that the brain is predominantly made of lipid not protein. We suggest that both protein and RNA in the brain would more likely been required to serve the extraordinary energy requirements for the brain. Early photosynthetic systems such as the dinoflagellates are rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) including di-DHA phosphoglycerides as also in contemporary mammalian photoreceptors. We wish to discuss in Part II, quantum mechanical properties of the π-electrons of DHA suggestive of a mechanism for the depolarization of the receptor membrane at a precise energy levels as required for vision and neural signalling (Crawford MA, Broadhurst CL, Guest M et al., 2013. A quantum theory for the irreplaceable role of docosahexaenoic acid in neural cell signalling throughout evolution. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids (PLEFA) 88(1): 5-13. Doi: 10.1016/j.plefa.2012.08.005. PMID: 2320...

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A quantum theory for the irreplaceable role of docosahexaenoic acid in neural cell signalling throughout evolution

Cited by 82 publications

References 32 publications

Focus on fatty acids in the neurometabolic pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders

Focus on fatty acids in the neurometabolic pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders

A theory on the role of π-electrons of docosahexaenoic acid in brain function

An introduction to a theory on the role of π-electrons of docosahexaenoic acid in brain function

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