Neural Thermodyamics: A Quantitative Framework for Consciousness Research

Consciousness eludes unified scientific explanation, entwining subjective experience with observable brain processes. Neural thermodynamics (NT) introduces a quantitative framework to bridge this divide, modeling consciousness through neural temperature (Tneural), energy (ΔE), and entropy (ΔS). Grounded in statistical mechanics and the Free Energy Principle, NT merges neuroscience and physics to map brain dynamics under thermodynamic constraints. It frames transitions between states—wakefulness, sleep, lucid dreaming, or psychedelic experiences—as measurable shifts in neural entropy and energy, tracked via EEG, fMRI, or PET. NT posits a theoretical zero-temperature limit (Tneural = 0), distinct from biological death, where maximal neural order and minimal informational complexity mark a critical threshold. Here, conventional cognition dissolves, yet residual activity persists, potentially illuminating deep unconsciousness, advancedmeditation, or psychedelic breakthroughs (e.g., 5-MeO-DMT). With testable predictions linking entropy fluctuations to cognitive function, NT enables applications in psychiatric diagnostics (e.g., depression, schizophrenia), anesthesia precision, and computational neuroscience. By casting consciousness as an emergent thermodynamic process, NT delivers a rigorous, interdisciplinary tool to propel neuroscience research and clinical innovation.