Study Proposes that Human Consciousness Might Arise as a Consequence of Entropy

Our human brains and the Universe share a remarkable connection – they are both composed of the same ‘star stuff’. However, a fascinating study published in 2016 proposes that this similarity may extend beyond their composition. According to the study, our brains might possess a programming that seeks to maximize disorder, similar to the principle of entropy. As a consequence, our consciousness could be nothing more than a byproduct of this process.

For centuries, scientists have been striving to comprehend the enigma of human consciousness – our ability to be self-aware and perceive our surroundings. Despite its significance, the origins, onset, and purpose of consciousness continue to elude researchers.Nevertheless, the 2016 study, conducted by a team of researchers from France and Canada, introduces a fresh perspective. It suggests that consciousness may naturally emerge as our brains strive to maximize their information content. In simpler terms, consciousness could be an unintended outcome of our brains gravitating towards a state of entropy.

Entropy refers to the transition of a system from order to disorder. Imagine an egg: when it is neatly separated into yolk and white, it exhibits low entropy. However, when scrambled, it attains high entropy – the utmost level of disorder.Many physicists propose that our Universe is undergoing a similar process. Since the Big Bang, the Universe has been gradually progressing from a state of low entropy to high entropy. This aligns with the second law of thermodynamics, which states that entropy can only increase within a system. Consequently, this may elucidate why the arrow of time perpetually moves forward.

Researchers decided to apply the same approach to the connections in our brains and investigate if there are any discernible patterns in the way they organize themselves while we are conscious. In order to do this, a team from the University of Toronto and Paris Descartes University utilized statistical mechanics, a type of probability theory, to model the networks of neurons in the brains of nine individuals, including seven with epilepsy. Their focus was on the synchronization of neurons, specifically whether they were oscillating in phase with each other, to determine if there were any connections between brain cells.

The researchers examined two sets of data: the connectivity patterns during participants’ sleep and wakefulness, and the differences observed during seizures in five of the epileptic patients compared to their normal, alert state. In both scenarios, they observed the same trend – the brains of the participants exhibited higher entropy when they were fully conscious. The team summarized their findings by stating, “We discovered a surprisingly straightforward outcome: normal wakeful states are characterized by the greatest number of potential configurations of interactions between brain networks, which correspond to the highest entropy values.”

The researchers’ findings have led them to propose that consciousness may be an emergent property of a system striving to maximize information exchange. However, it is important to acknowledge the limitations of this study, particularly the small sample size. With only nine participants, it is difficult to draw definitive conclusions, especially considering the variations in brain responses observed. Furthermore, at this stage, much of the discussion surrounding this topic remains speculative.

Physicist Peter McClintock from Lancaster University in the UK, who was not involved in the research, expressed his intrigue with the results but emphasized the need for replication with a larger number of subjects. He suggested conducting experiments during different brain states, such as under anesthesia, to further validate the findings.

Despite these limitations, this study serves as a valuable starting point for future research and offers a potential new hypothesis regarding the nature of consciousness in the human brain. Our understanding of how the brain’s organization influences consciousness is still in its early stages, but it presents an intriguing avenue for exploration. It also serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness we share through the universal laws that govern us.

The research findings were published in Physical Review E, and an earlier version of this article was originally published in January 2018.

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