Editorial

Nobelist Kary Mullis (seated) and Massimo Cocchi (Guest Editor)

This supplementary issue of the Journal of Integrative Neuroscience entitled: “Biological and Quantum Consciousness: A Journey from Bacteria to Animals and Humans”

is dedicated to an amazing scientist and a true friend, Dr. Kary Mullis. Below is our personal message to Kary.

Dear Kary,

I wish to take this opportunity to thank you for your invaluable help over the years. The Quantum Psychopathology (QPP) is a group of neuroscientists, biologists, psychiatrists and clinicians, of which you are an honorary member, has made important steps in the development of quantum concepts that had as principal objects the brain and the state of consciousness within the contiguity between man and animal. No one forgets the discussions you took part in and the contributions you made that led to the drafting of the Palermo Declaration and the Bologna Document. None of us will forget seeing you as a “humble student” sitting among the audience listening to the talks that the QPP members gave over the last 6 years, except this current 2017. We sorely missed you in 2017 since you were kept at home on doctors’ advice due to health problems.

I know you are more interested in the latest news in science than in verbiage, so, I just want, briefly, to update you on what has been recently happening and emerging in regard to the quantum aspects of the brain and consciousness. Next year our meeting will most likely be dedicated to the development of the concept of the brain, in its quantum differential function between man and animal. It is a very important discussion topic because, even in the light of the experiments we are preparing, we can, hopefully, explain, or at least propose, a plausible hypothesis about the basic mechanisms involved in the formation of the state of consciousness. In this connection, what comes to mind is your support and encouragement when, back in 2008 you endorsed the Artificial Neural Network work that, Lucio Tonello and I later applied to the molecular diagnosis of Mood Disorder and of Ischemic Cardiopathy. I know well that you do not like long laudatory speeches, which you have received aplenty on many occasions thanks to your amazing accomplishments in scientific research that changed the fields of biochemistry, cell biology and genetics, among others. Your interests extend far beyond science and this is, also, what inspires all of us. You are a true renaissance man, if there is one in 21st century. This quote of yours encapsulates the essence of your dedication to science that inspires us so much:

Science, like nothing else among the institutions of mankind, grows like a weed every year. Art is subject to arbitrary fashion, religion is inwardly focused and driven only to sustain itself, law shuttles between freeing us and enslaving us.

I’ll end up this short tribute to you by wishing all the very best to you and yours and wishing us that you could join us at the 7th QPP workshop that will take place as always in Italy, a country that I know has a special place in your heart. In the meantime, we thought we would send you this collection of papers so that you can be updated on the steps that have been made.

We are hoping to see you next year and are sending you a warm embrace from all your friends in Italy and around the world,

Massimo and all our QPP members.