Quantum tunneling in synaptic enzymes as a source of genuine neural variability
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62059/984rem73Keywords:
Kinetic isotopic effect, Proton tunnel, Synaptic variability, Presynaptic enzymes, Deuterium, Inter-spike interval, Neural criticalityAbstract
We propose that thermally assisted proton tunneling in presynaptic enzymes contributes measurably to synaptic variability, producing a kinetic isotope effect (KIE) distinguishable from classical thermal noise. H→D isotope substitution in neuronal cultures should reduce the interspike interval coefficient of variation (ISI CV) by a KIE_network factor in the range of 1.5–3.5×, with a modal estimate of ~2.5×, under conditions where pure thermal noise predicts KIE ≈ 1. The prediction rests on: (1) documented proton tunneling in enzymes with KIE up to 100×; (2) a PCET-mediated vesicular fusion model; and (3) experimental evidence that heavy water modulates hippocampal synaptic transmission. The hypothesis does not require macroscopic quantum coherence or novel physics. The falsification threshold is explicit: KIE_red < 1.5× under controlled conditions with sufficient statistical power would refute the hypothesis in its current formulation.
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Data Availability Statement
Los datos utilizados en este trabajo provienen de literatura científica publicada y citada en las referencias. No se generaron datos experimentales propios, ya que el presente trabajo constituye una hipótesis falsificable con predicciones experimentales diseñadas para ser testeadas por laboratorios equipados. El manuscrito esta disponible en acceso abierto en Zenodo (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.20026348). Este trabajo fue desarrollado por un investigador independiente sin afiliación institucional formal, desde Buenos Aires, Argentina. La ausencia de afiliación no refleja la calidad ni el rigor del trabajo, sino la condición de investigación independiente que caracteriza a una tradición científica legitima y reconocida internacionalmente.
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