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One is reminded of such ideas as "panpsychism" (like those of Leibniz, Spinoza, or Whitehead), where consciousness may play its part within the processes of physical action at its deepest levels.

I am going to have to get my hands on Penrose!!! Please recommend a title to get me started, A-G?

The above quote is tantalizing.... Earlier on this thread, someone wrote that atoms do not possess consciousness or some such remark. I didn't challenge that; but really when you think about it, there's really no way to know at this point. So I wouldn't "rule it in" or "rule it out."

Thank you so much for your post, betty boop! I agree wholeheartedly with Phaedrus' post at 3703 - and truly wish you had more time to spend with all of us on this neverending discovery process!

With regard to Penrose, I recommend the two books - Emperor's New Mind and Shadows of the Mind in that order. I also recommend reading his critics and Penrose's response to them, such as the source of the quote.

The math can be tedious, but I'm sure you'll be looking for the underlying flow - and that's where Penrose is particularly engaging IMHO.