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@article{Carhart-Harris:2014:10.3389/fnhum.2014.00020,
author = {Carhart-Harris, RL and Leech, R and Hellyer, PJ and Shanahan, M and Feilding, A and Tagliazucchi, E and Chialvo, DR and Nutt, D},
doi = {10.3389/fnhum.2014.00020},
journal = {Frontiers in Human Neuroscience},
pages = {1--22},
title = {The entropic brain: a theory of conscious states informed by neuroimaging research with psychedelic drugs},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00020},
volume = {8},
year = {2014}
}

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TY  - JOUR
AB  - Entropy is a dimensionless quantity that is used for measuring uncertainty about the state of a system but it can also imply physical qualities, where high entropy is synonymous with high disorder. Entropy is applied here in the context of states of consciousness and their associated neurodynamics, with a particular focus on the psychedelic state. The psychedelic state is considered an exemplar of a primitive or primary state of consciousness that preceded the development of modern, adult, human, normal waking consciousness. Based on neuroimaging data with psilocybin, a classic psychedelic drug, it is argued that the defining feature of “primary states” is elevated entropy in certain aspects of brain function, such as the repertoire of functional connectivity motifs that form and fragment across time. Indeed, since there is a greater repertoire of connectivity motifs in the psychedelic state than in normal waking consciousness, this implies that primary states may exhibit “criticality,” i.e., the property of being poised at a “critical” point in a transition zone between order and disorder where certain phenomena such as power-law scaling appear. Moreover, if primary states are critical, then this suggests that entropy is suppressed in normal waking consciousness, meaning that the brain operates just below criticality. It is argued that this entropy suppression furnishes normal waking consciousness with a constrained quality and associated metacognitive functions, including reality-testing and self-awareness. It is also proposed that entry into primary states depends on a collapse of the normally highly organized activity within the default-mode network (DMN) and a decoupling between the DMN and the medial temporal lobes (which are normally significantly coupled). These hypotheses can be tested by examining brain activity and associated cognition in other candidate primary states such as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and early ps
AU  - Carhart-Harris,RL
AU  - Leech,R
AU  - Hellyer,PJ
AU  - Shanahan,M
AU  - Feilding,A
AU  - Tagliazucchi,E
AU  - Chialvo,DR
AU  - Nutt,D
DO  - 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00020
EP  - 22
PY  - 2014///
SN  - 1662-5161
SP  - 1
TI  - The entropic brain: a theory of conscious states informed by neuroimaging research with psychedelic drugs
T2  - Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00020
UR  - http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000330638800001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
UR  - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00020/full
VL  - 8
ER  -

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