Sultan Tarlacı

Sultan Tarlacı (born November 25, 1970) is a Turkish neurologist, neuroscientist, professor, and author. He is a professor at the Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, and also serves at the Department of Psychology. He is the founder of the interdisciplinary journal NeuroQuantology (2003) and the founder and current editor-in-chief of the Journal of NeuroPhilosophy (2022–present). Tarlacı is known for his work on the intersection of quantum mechanics and neuroscience, neurophilosophy, consciousness studies, and clinical electrophysiology. He has authored over 70 peer-reviewed scientific articles, 25+ books, and supervised more than 45 graduate theses.

Early life and education

Sultan Tarlacı was born on November 25, 1970, in Rize, Turkey. He completed his primary education at Melek Village Primary School (1977–1982), secondary education at Muradiye Secondary School (1982–1985), and high school at Rize High School (1985–1989).

He enrolled in Atatürk University Faculty of Medicine in Erzurum in 1989 and graduated as the valedictorian of his class in 1995 with a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. In November 1995, he began his residency in neurology at Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, and became a board-certified neurologist in November 2000.

Clinical and academic career

Following his specialization, Tarlacı worked at several institutions including Celal Bayar University (as observer neurologist, 2001), Central Hospital in İzmir (2001), Alsancak Private Hospital (2001–2002), and Universal Ege Private Health Hospital (2002–2013), where he served as the head of the neurology unit. He became an associate professor of neurology in September 2011. In October 2017, Tarlacı joined Üsküdar University and NP Brain Hospital in Istanbul as a professor. He served as the head of the Department of Neuroscience from February 2019 to January 2022.

NeuroQuantology (2003–2017)

In April 2003, Tarlacı founded NeuroQuantology: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Neuroscience and Quantum Physics, serving as its publisher, name-giver, and editor-in-chief. The journal was accepted into the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) in January 2008. He served as editor-in-chief from 2003 until 2017.

Journal of NeuroPhilosophy (2022–present)

In 2022, Tarlacı founded the Journal of NeuroPhilosophy (JNphi), an open-access, peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated to the interdisciplinary exploration of philosophy and its relation to the nervous system. He serves as the founding editor-in-chief. The journal aims to address ancient philosophical questions through the lens of contemporary neuroscience. It is published by AnKa Publishing and offers full-text HTML and PDF formats to enhance visibility and indexing. The editorial board consists of international scholars from neuroscience, philosophy, psychology, and ethics.

Other editorial roles

Tarlacı has served on the advisory board of the Journal of Consciousness Exploration & Research (2009–2018) and as an editor for Sexus Journal (2014–present).

Media and public engagement

Tarlacı is a frequent contributor to popular science magazines, including Popüler Bilim and Bilim ve Teknik (TÜBİTAK). He has written over 20 popular science articles on topics ranging from nanotechnology and synesthesia to paleoneurology and the evolution of consciousness.

He has appeared extensively in Turkish national media as a guest expert on neuroscience, consciousness, and behavioral sciences. His television appearances include programs on CNN Türk, Habertürk, TRT 1, TRT 2, Ülke TV, TV360, and Haberglobal. He was a regular guest on "Gündem Özel" (CNN Türk), "Öteki Gündem" (Habertürk), and "Bilimden Sağlığa" (Ülke TV). In 2020, he hosted the 26-episode series "Akıl Beyin Kültür" on TV100. He has also been featured on TRT Radyo 1's "Ailece" program.

He delivered a TEDx talk at TEDxÜsküdar University in 2018 titled "Aşık Beyin" (The Brain in Love) and another in 2023 titled "Sismik İzolatörden İlhamla Tremor Tedavisine" (From Seismic Isolators to Tremor Treatment).

Research

Tarlacı's research interests span a wide interdisciplinary spectrum, including clinical neurology, neurophysiology (EEG, EMG, QEEG, TMS, MEP), quantum approaches to the nervous system, neurophilosophy, philosophy of mind, evolutionary biology, cognitive archaeology, and consciousness studies.

Quantum neurobiology

Tarlacı is one of the few researchers who systematically explored the applicability of quantum mechanics to neural processes. His 2014 book NeuroQuantology: Quantum Physics in the Brain (Nova Science Publishers) synthesizes theoretical and empirical arguments for quantum effects in biological systems. He has published multiple papers on the subject, including "Quantum neurophysics: From non-living matter to quantum neurobiology and psychopathology" (International Journal of Psychophysiology, 2016, co-authored with Massimo Pregnolato).

Clinical electrophysiology and neurology

His clinical research includes pioneering work on the electrophysiology of swallowing. He was part of the Ege University team led by Professor Cumhur Ertekin that developed the "dysphagia limit" method, a non-invasive EMG screening technique for neurogenic dysphagia. This method was validated in a 17-year study involving 1,278 adults published in Clinical Neurophysiology (2015).

He has also conducted research on: - The effects of peripheral vibration on motor-evoked potentials in stroke (Neuromodulation, 2010) - Migraine prophylaxis with antidepressants (Clinical Neuropharmacology, 2009) - A wrist-worn harmonic liquid tremor absorber for essential tremor (Movement Disorders, 2025) - Volumetric brain MRI alterations in addiction and ADHD - Heart rate variability and attention in children with ADHD - Quantitative EEG (QEEG) biomarkers for psychiatric and neurological conditions

EEG fingerprint and cordance

In 2024, Tarlacı and his student Açelya Hıdımoğlu published a study on the existence of individual EEG fingerprints using cordance and coherence analysis (International Journal of Psychophysiology, 2025), demonstrating spatiotemporal stability in interhemispheric and interannual EEG coherence.

Neurophilosophy and evolutionary neuroscience

Tarlacı has contributed to the philosophical implications of neuroscience. His 2023 paper "Implications of Neuroscience for Ancient Traditional Philosophical Questions" (Journal of NeuroPhilosophy) examines how modern brain science informs classical philosophical debates. He has also published on the neurobiology of obedience (Milgram experiment), the posterior cingulate cortex, and the evolutionary determinants of maximum lifespan (Journal of NeuroPhilosophy, 2025).

In 2025, he published "Planck Time and the Chemical Soup: The Quantum and Metaphysical Limits of Imitating Consciousness in Machines" in the Journal of NeuroPhilosophy, addressing the limits of artificial intelligence in replicating human consciousness.

Cognitive archaeology and human evolution

A unique aspect of Tarlacı's research is his interest in cognitive archaeology—the study of the evolution of human cognition through archaeological evidence. He has taught a course on "Cognitive Archaeology" at Üsküdar University and published popular books on human evolution, including Mağaradan Mars'a (From Cave to Mars).

Publications

Tarlacı is the author or editor of over 25 books and more than 70 peer-reviewed articles.

Selected books in English

  • NeuroQuantology: Quantum Physics in the Brain: Reducing the Secret of the Rainbow to the Colours of a Prism. Nova Science Publishers, New York, 2014.
  • Cancer Tumor Life: Biological and Physical Aspects (with Miroslaw Kozlowski). Nova Science Publishers, 2012.
  • "NeuroStimulation: Use of Non-invasive Brain Stimulation in Stroke" (book chapter, with B. Turman). In: NeuroStimulation, InTech Publisher, 2012.
  • Kuantum Beyin: NöroKuantoloji (Quantum Brain: NeuroQuantology). Üsküdar University Press, 2025.
  • Mağaradan Mars'a (From Cave to Mars). Üsküdar University Press, 2025.
  • Elektroensefalografi Keşfinin Tarihsel Serüveni (The Historical Adventure of EEG Discovery). Üsküdar University Press, May 2024.
  • Felsefe, Mistisizm ve Sanat Aynasında Ömer Hayyam: Carpe Diem (Omar Khayyam in the Mirror of Philosophy, Mysticism, and Art: Carpe Diem). Destek Yayınları, June 2024.
  • ÖteAlem (The Other Realm). Destek Yayınları, 2023. 312 pp.
  • Ömer Hayyam: Kader Çarkı (Omar Khayyam: The Wheel of Fate). Destek Yayınları, January 2022.
  • Bir Psikopatın Peşinde 197 Gün (197 Days After a Psychopath – novel). Destek Yayınevi, 2020.
  • Nörolojik Aciller: Güncel Tanı ve Tedavi (Neurological Emergencies: Current Diagnosis and Treatment – medical textbook). Hipokrat Kitabevi, 2019.
  • Bilinç (Consciousness). Destek Yayınları, 2019.
  • Suç ve Beyin (Crime and Brain). Destek Yayınları, 2019.
  • Ölüm'Sözlük: Ölümlüler için bir yol rehberi (Death'Dic: A Guide for Mortals). Tuti Kitap, 2018.
  • Usta ve Çırak Sohbetleri (Master and Apprentice Conversations). Destek Yayınları, 2018.
  • Mağaradan Mars'a: Bir varoluş hikâyesi (From Cave to Mars: A Story of Existence). Destek Yayınevi, 2017.
  • 197 Gün (197 Days – novel). Tuti Kitap, 2017.
  • Schrödinger'in kedisi neden şizofren oldu? (Why Did Schrödinger's Cat Become Schizophrenic?). Destek Yayınevi, 2016.
  • Acil Nörolojik Hastalıklar: Güncel Tanı ve Tedavi (Emergency Neurological Diseases: Current Diagnosis and Treatment – medical textbook). Nobel Tıp, 2014.
  • Kuantum Beyin: Bilinç-Beyin Sorununa Yeni Bilimsel Yaklaşım (Quantum Brain: A New Scientific Approach to the Consciousness-Brain Problem). Hermes, 2009.
  • Bilinç: Antikçağdan Bilincin Yeniden Keşfine (Consciousness: From Antiquity to the Rediscovery of Consciousness). Hermes, 2009.

Selected recent journal articles (2023–2026)

  • Çınaroğlu M, Yılmazer E, Ülker SV, Tarlacı S (2026). Resting-state EEG power and machine-learning classification in adult males with [...] disorder. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 19:1725528. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2025.1725528
  • Tarlacı S, Çolak A (2026). Relationship Between MOXO-D-CPT Results and Volumetric Brain MR in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, 86(1):e70093. doi:10.1002/jdn.70093
  • Tarlacı S, Kaya Topal Y (2026). Heart Rate Variability and MOXO-d-CPT Relationship in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback. doi:10.1007/s10484-026-09766-w
  • Tarlacı S (2025). Planck Time and the Chemical Soup: The Quantum and Metaphysical Limits of Imitating Consciousness in Machines. Journal of NeuroPhilosophy, 5(1). doi:10.5281/zenodo.ADDWILL05
  • Tarlacı S (2025). The Evolutionary and Biophysical Determinants of Maximum Lifespan: Scaling Laws, Brain Size, and Future Projections. Journal of NeuroPhilosophy, 4(2). doi:10.5281/zenodo.17938414
  • Ülker SV, Çınaroğlu M, Yılmazer E, Tarlacı S (2025). Theta Cordance Decline in Frontal and Temporal Cortices: Longitudinal Evidence of Regional Cortical Aging. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(23):8341. doi:10.3390/jcm14238341
  • Yılmazer E, Çinaroğlu M, Ülker SV, Tarlacı S (2025). Interhemispheric EEG coherence as a candidate biomarker in [...] disorder: evidence of frontal hyperconnectivity and posterior disconnectivity. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 19:1687112. doi:10.3389/fnins.2025.1687112
  • Eda Yılmazer, Metin Çınaroğlu, Salih Köse, Selami Varol Ülker and Sultan Tarlacı (2025). No Significant Differences in Salivary Oxytocin Levels Between Children With and Without Autism. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14, 6760. doi:10.3390/jcm14196760
  • Çınaroğlu M, Yılmazer E, Ülker SV, Taçyıldız K, Tarlacı S (2025). Volumetric and cortical thickness alterations in alcohol dependence: evidence of accelerated brain aging and clinical correlations. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16:1662842. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1662842
  • Ateş B, Tarlacı S (2025). Enneagram Kişilik Özelliği Aracılığı ile Alkol ve Sigara Kullanım Alışkanlığının Duygu Yönetimi Çerçevesinde Değerlendirilmesi. İstanbul Gelişim Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 12(2):724-738. doi:10.17336/igusbd.1576141
  • Tarlacı S, Doğan F (2025). Effect of a wrist harmonic liquid tremor absorber-damping on the upper extremity essential tremor. Movement Disorders. doi:10.1002/mds.30102
  • Tarlacı S, Hıdımoğlu A (2025). Quantitative EEG fingerprints: Spatiotemporal stability in interhemispheric and interannual coherence. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 207:112478. doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2024.112478
  • Saritaş S, Tarlacı S, Bulbuloglu S, Guneş H (2024). Investigation of Post-Transplant Mental Well-Being in Liver Transplant Recipients with Hepatic Encephalopathy. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(11):3249. doi:10.3390/jcm13113249

Graduate supervision

As of 2026, Tarlacı has supervised 45 completed graduate theses (master's and doctoral) at Üsküdar University. His students have conducted research in clinical psychology, neuroscience, and neuromarketing on topics including:

- Volumetric brain MRI in addiction (alcohol, [...]) - EEG biomarkers in ADHD, autism, and meditation - Psychological resilience in natural disaster survivors - Time perception and anxiety disorders - Neuropalliative care in organ transplantation - Quantum cognition and decision-making

Notable supervised theses include the first Turkish studies on EEG fingerprinting, volumetric pain matrix analysis in fibromyalgia, and the relationship between heavy metals and autism spectrum disorder.

Awards and honors

  • **2024**: Best Presentation Award (with Serdar Sarıtaş), for "The effect of hepatic encephalopathy on cognitive functions of patients after living donor liver transplantation"
  • **2024**: TEKNOFEST Finalist (RadiCUT study group on ALS)
  • **2021**: Poster Second Prize, Pediatric Rehabilitation Congress (supervised study on rhythmic vestibular-ocular stimulation in children)
  • **2014**: NeoCortex "Hikmet" Award in Neuroscience
  • **2003**: Sedat Simavi Health Sciences Award, Turkish Journalists' Association
  • **2001**: Research Incentive Award, TÜBİTAK-Brain Research Association
  • **2000**: Research Encouragement Award, Brain Research Association-Pharmacia Upjohn

Personal life

Sultan Tarlacı resides in Istanbul, Turkey. He holds dual academic specializations in medicine and philosophy. He is an advocate for interdisciplinary approaches in cognitive science and regularly mentors undergraduate and graduate students in scientific research.

See also

  • NeuroQuantology
  • Journal of NeuroPhilosophy
  • Quantum mind
  • Neurophilosophy
  • Turkish neuroscientists
  • List of neurologists