Quantum computers are often referred to as a future technology that will give scientists and engineers a new tool with which to explore the deeper mysteries of the universe. But, based on a new study, they may end up making the whole species a little smarter.

A team of scientists in South Korea recently used a quantum computer to conduct research on how humans retain and retrieve information. This pioneering study could pave the way for new learning techniques to improve outcomes in fields such as science, mathematics, and finance. 

Quantum computing

There are numerous forms of quantum computing, though the industry remains in its infancy. Companies such as Google and IBM are heavily involved in developing what’s called “gate-based” quantum computers. These systems work in a somewhat similar fashion to modern digital circuits. 

Other firms, however, have taken a different approach. The aforementioned research team used a quantum annealing computer from Canadian technology company D-Wave for their study. 

Quantum annealing is, basically, a more specialized method for exploiting quantum mechanics for the purpose of computation. Where gate-based quantum computers will, one day, hopefully, lead to a “universal quantum computer” capable of performing any relevant computation, quantum annealing is currently focused on a specific class of problems called “optimization.” 

The study

The researchers monitored the brainwaves of 100 students as they performed a series of cognitive tasks. They then conducted a group comparison analysis between the performance of students with higher test scores (as recorded prior to the study) against those with lower test scores. 

The brainwave analysis was then analyzed using algorithms running on a D-Wave quantum annealing computer. According to the researchers, the study resulted in new insights concerning how cognitive ability relates to testing outcomes.

Per the paper: 

“Our study demonstrates the potential of quantum annealing-based algorithms … Future studies should employ these results to investigate predictors of academic achievement or, more broadly, cognitive ability.”The study’s results showed that D-Wave’s quantum annealing computer was as competent as state-of-the-art machine learning techniques when it came to analysing the data. 

The implications

According to the researchers, this line of research could lead to a better understanding of how the human brain processes information. The insights gleaned from this study showed that certain cognitive functions can be associated with higher test scores. 

By understanding how these brain functions can be optimized, researchers could develop methods to improve general cognitive ability. This would essentially allow the development of shortcuts for learning that could improve outcomes for individuals working in fields requiring constant adjustments to new information.

Cryptocurrency trading, for example, requires cognitive skills directly related to those examined in the aforementioned study. An education program centered around enhancing those cognitive functions at the neuron-level of the human brain would likely be advantageous for those in the field. 

Meanwhile, enhancing the cognitive functions behind a different sort of problem solving, such as, for example, architecture, may require an entirely different approach. 

As quantum annealing optimization techniques improve, and even more of the human brain’s cognitive network is revealed, humanity may have to reimagine the purpose of education as it relates to actual learning.

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