Quantum Information Flow in Microtubule Tryptophan Networks
The study modeled how optical information flows through networks of tryptophan residues in microtubules using a master equation. By testing different starting conditions—like superradiant or coherent states—the research found that the direction and persistence of this information depend heavily on the initial setup. Structural features like embedding tubulin into larger spirals can route signals, while disorder generally hinders long-range transport, suggesting microtubules can transiently store quantum correlations.