Hello Reader,
For centuries, we have tried to unravel one of the most fascinating mysteries of the human experience—consciousness—the subjective awareness of one’s existence and the environment. It is one of those fundamental questions that bugs philosophers, psychologists, physicists, and neuroscientists alike.
Unlike René Descartes, whose theory of dualism states that our body and mind can exist independently, physicalists argue that everything that exists is physical and only physical. We, our memories, our emotions, thoughts and yes—our consciousness—are all in some way material. It is part of the physical world and can, therefore, be accounted for by something that in theory, could be measured. But how?
Entropy and the Brain
The answer lies, as you might have guessed, within our brain. It controls most of our bodily functions, integrates our senses, stores our memories, and enables us to think, feel, and be self-aware—presumably encompassing all the essential building blocks for consciousness.
During my postgraduate research project at Imperial College London, I had the opportunity to work with the world-renowned Professor Robin Carhart-Harris, exploring the effects of psychedelics on the brain, well-being, and consciousness. The topic fascinates me to this day (you can read more about it here).
According to Carhart-Harris, conscious states exist on a spectrum. This ranges from states of highly organised brain activity with predictable patterns to states where the activity is highly disorganised and harder to predict. This degree of disorder, uncertainty or randomness is called entropy.
Picture your commute to work every day. You can decide to drive on the same motorway every day (low entropy) or explore new routes, take a B road or go completely “offroad” (high entropy). Carhart-Harris calls his theory of different states of consciousness the Entropic Brain Theory.
Going Off-Road: Different levels of Entropy
He argues that during “everyday” consciousness our brain shows a default level of entropy. During this normal waking consciousness, we are able to think realistically, have foresight, and reflection. We take the same road to work every day.
However, during primary consciousness, our brain exhibits a high level of entropy. Our thoughts become unconstrained, random, emotional, imaginative, and creative. It's as if we skip the motorway and go off-road. Humans experience this primary state during vivid dreams or under the influence of psychedelic drugs. As a neuroscientist, I believe that it is this highly entropic, plastic state that makes psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy so effective in treating mental disorders. In contrast, a low entropy state can be induced by sedatives.
Measuring Entropy
Now, to measure this entropy and to tell these states apart, we can take the data from an electroencephalogram (EEG), which measures the electrical signal on our scalp. We can then use an algorithm to calculate the so-called Lempel Ziv Complexity (LZ). It analyzes the data, looks at repetitive chunks and computes how complex and disorganised it is.
Imagine a baby learning its first words. The Lempel Ziv algorithm would pick up all words and random babbles, leading to a high LZ. As the baby's speech becomes more organised and repetitive, with fewer random elements, the LZ score decreases. If we were to consider your brain activity as a language, the LZ would essentially measure the complexity of that language's vocabulary—or how thick its dictionary is.
The LZ comes with limitations. It can tell different states of consciousness apart but not how it feels like to have a particular type of subjective experience. The Australian philosopher David Chalmers calls this the Hard Problem of Consciousness, which is still debated today.
How Entropy Impacts Your Daily Life
Thinking about your brain in terms of its entropy—and the benefits of increasing it—applies to various contexts:
- Ruminating: Low entropy keeps thoughts repetitive. Breaking this by engaging in a creative or novel activity can help reduce rumination.
- Core Beliefs: These rely on low entropy for stability. Periodically challenging them through new perspectives and identifying your "blind spots" can promote flexibility and growth.
- Fears: Fear often traps us in rigid patterns. Small “off-road” experiences, like trying unfamiliar activities, introduce entropy and build resilience.
- Seeking Novelty: High entropy drives curiosity. Actively seeking new experiences enhances creativity and adaptability, enriching daily life.
Brain entropy: the balance between predictability and flexibility in our minds.
🧠 Low entropy fuels routine and rumination.
💡 Core beliefs thrive in stability but need occasional “disruption.”
✨ Creativity peaks in high entropy—seek new ideas!
– @faissalsharif
Share this on X
In essence, entropy in the brain is not just a scientific concept—it's a tool for personal growth and mental flexibility. Whether it's through mindfulness practices, engaging in new hobbies, or simply stepping out of our comfort zones, increasing brain entropy can lead to a more vibrant and adaptable mind.
