"The comparison of arrival times need not actually be performed to destroy the interference pattern. The mere "threat" of obtaining information about which way the photon travelled, Mandel explains, forces it to travel only one route. "The quantum state reflects not only what we know about the system but what is in principle knowable," Mandel says. "
If anything this seems to argue against a significant role for consciousness. The fact that the potential for knowledge about a system, rather than conscious observation/apprehension of that knowledge, is sufficient to destroy the interference pattern suggests that consciousness is unneccessary. Although perhaps potential conscious observation is sufficient in which case only a potential consciousness should be needed.
TTFN,
WK