The brain does have entropy — but it's a different application of the term compared to how we use it in physics or thermodynamics.
Here's how entropy relates to the brain:
1. Thermodynamic Entropy (Physical)
The brain, like all physical systems, follows the second law of thermodynamics. It consumes energy (mostly in the form of glucose and oxygen), and in doing so, it generates heat and increases the entropy of the surrounding environment. So yes, physically, the brain contributes to entropy like any other organ.
2. Information Entropy (Neuroscience/Cognitive Science)
In terms of information theory, entropy measures uncertainty or unpredictability in a system. In the brain:
- High entropy means more complex, flexible, and adaptive neural activity.
- Low entropy might indicate rigid, repetitive, or predictable states (e.g., during deep sleep or under anesthesia).
Studies have shown:
- Consciousness is associated with higher entropy brain states.
- Psychedelics, dreams, and even creative thinking can increase brain entropy.
- Disorders like depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may show lower brain entropy.
3. Psychological/Philosophical View
From a more abstract view, mental chaos, unpredictability, or creativity can be seen as forms of entropy. Our thoughts naturally move from order to disorder unless we consciously direct them — a concept that matches the second law of thermodynamics in a metaphorical way.
To reach higher or more expansive levels of thinking, such as creative insight, expanded consciousness, deep problem-solving, or spiritual experiences, you often need higher brain entropy — in the information-theoretic sense, not chaos, but richness and variability of brain activity.
Here’s how it works:
Higher Brain Entropy = Higher Cognitive Flexibility
- When your brain's activity is more diverse and less predictable, you can make new connections, explore novel ideas, and break out of old patterns.
- This is why during psychedelic states, dreams, or deep meditation, people often report profound insights — because brain entropy is elevated.
Low Entropy = Rigid Thinking
- Too much order in the brain — like in routine thinking, anxiety, depression, or extreme focus — can limit creativity and open-mindedness.
- You might be efficient but less likely to see new possibilities.
So yes, if you want to reach a higher level of thinking:
You need to intentionally increase brain entropy — but in a controlled, purposeful way. Here’s how:
Ways to increase healthy brain entropy:
- Meditation (especially open-monitoring or transcendental types)
- Novel experiences and learning
- Creative activities (art, writing, music)
- Dream journaling or lucid dreaming
- Psychedelic states (where legal and safe, under guidance)
- Deep philosophical or abstract contemplation
- Letting go of egoic control temporarily (flow state)
Final Thought:
It’s about balance. Total chaos (too much entropy) is madness. Total order (too little entropy) is rigidity. But creative, conscious disorder — that’s where true growth and higher thinking happen.
When we say entropy of brain increased, What has been changed in the brain, any visualisation?
When we say "entropy of the brain increased", we mean that the patterns of brain activity have become more complex, diverse, and less predictable. Let's explore what actually changes in the brain and how it can be visualized.
What Changes in the Brain When Entropy Increases?
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More Diverse Neural Firing Patterns
- Neurons fire in less synchronized and more varied ways.
- Instead of fixed loops or narrow patterns, the brain explores wider possibilities.
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Weaker Hierarchical Control
- Normally, the default mode network (DMN) — the seat of ego, self-talk, and habitual thinking — controls other networks.
- As entropy rises, this control loosens, allowing other networks (like sensory, emotional, or imaginative circuits) to interact more freely.
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Increased Connectivity Between Brain Regions
- Different regions that don’t usually talk to each other start communicating.
- This leads to novel associations — the essence of creativity and insight.
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Dynamic Network Switching
- The brain shifts more fluidly between mental states (e.g., memory, attention, vision).
- This enhances flexibility and adaptability.
Visualization of Brain Entropy
Researchers often use fMRI, EEG, or MEG to visualize brain activity. Here's what you'd see:
Low Entropy State (e.g., deep sleep, rigid thinking)
- Brain activity is predictable and repetitive.
- Few networks dominate.
- Visualization: Smooth, rhythmic, low-variability waves in EEG or uniform fMRI maps.
High Entropy State (e.g., during meditation, psychedelics, creative flow)
- Brain activity is rich, diverse, and unpredictable.
- Multiple networks are co-active.
- Visualization: Colorful, highly dynamic fMRI maps, or irregular, complex EEG waveforms.
Here’s a simplified artistic comparison:
Real-World Example:
A 2014 study on LSD by Robin Carhart-Harris showed much higher entropy in brain scans, especially in vision, emotion, and self-awareness regions. This is why people report vivid visuals, deep emotions, and spiritual awakening — their brain is exploring new spaces.
Increased brain entropy (in terms of neural complexity and activity) can be associated with slightly increased heat production, but it's important to clarify a few points:
1. More Activity = More Energy Use
- When brain entropy increases, more neuronal circuits are active in non-repetitive, flexible patterns.
- This typically means more glucose and oxygen are consumed.
- As a result, the brain may produce more metabolic heat — just like a computer getting warmer under heavy processing.
2. But It’s Still Very Efficient
- The brain is incredibly energy-efficient — it uses about 20% of the body’s energy, even at rest.
- Even during high-entropy states (e.g., meditation, creativity, psychedelics), the increase in heat is subtle, not dramatic like a fever or physical exertion.
3. Heat Is a Byproduct, Not a Goal
- The increase in heat isn’t directly “caused by entropy.”
- It's a byproduct of increased neural computation — which correlates with higher entropy states.
Summary:
Yes, more brain entropy can lead to slightly more heat generation, but the brain is so finely regulated that it doesn't overheat. Most of the energy goes into maintaining electrochemical gradients and synaptic transmission, with a small portion lost as heat.