The Physics of Solitude: Isolation, Cognitive Superposition, and Quantum Cognition

The Physics of Solitude: Isolation, Cognitive Superposition, and Quantum CognitionAuthor: Khan Tahsin AbrarIndependent Researcher, [email protected] 14th September, 2025 AbstractProlonged human isolation, whether environmental or socially imposed, profoundly affects brain structure and function. This paper synthesizes authentic, peer-reviewed research on cognitive and neurological effects of isolation, including classic cave isolation experiments, solitary confinement, COVID-19 lockdown, and sensory deprivation, with the emerging science of quantum cognition. Drawing on over 10,000 empirical subjects across neuroimaging, behavioral, and survey studies, we establish robust foundational science for a novel theoretical framework: prolonged isolation as a state of cognitive superposition. We explore how 1) human cognition in isolation exhibits coexisting, ambiguous states similar to quantum superposition, 2) social observation or re-engagement functions as "wave function collapse," and 3) validated quantum cognitive models interpret ambiguous, non-classical mental states. We provide in-depth meta-analytic synthesis and real data and propose methods for AI-driven measurement and modeling, equipping future researchers to empirically test this interdisciplinary hypothesis.