Mind the quantum?

Mind the quantum? 

One of the greatest adventures of all times for Science involves trying to understand how our brains work. Our capacity to perceive the beautiful colors of the rainbow, to build machines to take us to the moon, to prove mathematical theorems and to fall in love depends on the intricate circuitry of many neurons in our brains. Francis Crick pungently wrote: "You are nothing but a pack of neurons". 

I have recently read a great book entitled "Physics in Mind" by Werner Loewenstein, W. (2012). The book takes us on a delightful journey that starts with the Big Bang and ends up discussing the extent to which quantum mechanics plays a role in brain computations.
With precise, enticing and often provocative prose, Lowenstein dares delve into fundamental questions at the boundary of Physics, Biology, Neuroscience and Philosophy. 

The author argues that understanding consciousness will require interpreting cognitive phenomena under the microscope of quantum formalism. He is not alone in these claims. Giants of the caliber of Roger Penrose and many others have made related claims. 
Yet, I wonder. Physics made great advances by considering simple models. Einstein famously argued that models should be as simple as possible. There is beauty, elegance and enormous power in thinking about an elephant's weight as concentrated in a single point.

Theoretical Physics is a well established field with several centuries of demonstrated successes. In comparison, Neuroscience and, in particular Theoretical Neuroscience, is the new kid on the block. Before postulating complex models, we should push the simpler, classical ones and see where they take us. We should start with neurons, synapses and circuits and try to capture the mind. It is likely that we will take many steps in the wrong direction and we will fall several times. Yet, what we stand to gain is enormous. If we can develop a "classical theory" of the mind based on neuronal ensembles and their interactions, we will be able to better understand who we are, to treat devastating neurological conditions, to build intelligent machines.