How LSD Increases Entropy in Neural Networks

1. Opening Hook: A Question of Chaos and Clarity

Have you ever felt like your brain was stuck in a loop, caught in the same thoughts, the same patterns, day after day? I know I have. Years ago, before I ever touched psychedelics, my mind was a rigid network of habits and anxieties. Then one night, under the influence of LSD, something unexpected happened. It was as if the walls between my thoughts crumbled and new connections formed spontaneously, like a spark setting off a wildfire of ideas. This wasn’t just a feeling of being “high” or “trippy.” It was something more fundamental - my brain becoming temporarily less predictable, more fluid. This experience left me wondering: What if at the heart of LSD’s effect is the brain’s increase in entropy?

Entropy isn’t a word most people toss around casually, but it’s a powerful concept borrowed from physics and information theory. It measures disorder, randomness, or unpredictability within a system. Imagine a tightly wound ball of string vs. a messy pile. The messy pile has higher entropy because it’s less ordered. Now, think about your brain’s activity as a network of electrical signals and connections. What happens if you crank up the entropy there? Could it explain the kaleidoscopic visions, the flood of emotions, the sense of connectedness and dissolution of the self that many people report during an LSD experience?

My journey into this question became not just academic but personal. I’ve spent years researching the neuroscience behind psychedelics, reading the works of pioneers like Robin Carhart-Harris and Stanislav Grof, and grappling with my own experiences. What I’ve found is that LSD doesn’t just tweak the brain’s chemistry; it fundamentally alters how information flows by increasing the randomness, or entropy, of neural networks. This shift is both a doorway to creativity and a reset button for stuck mental patterns.

In this article, I want to take you through the science and stories behind how LSD increases entropy in the brain, what that means for us as people seeking healing and insight, and how we can work with this knowledge in everyday life. If you’ve ever been curious about why psychedelics feel like a window into a different state of mind, or you’re simply looking to understand the neurobiology behind that sense of awe and confusion, stick with me. We’ll explore research, practical wisdom, and the subtle balance between order and chaos that shapes human consciousness.

2. Core Concept Explanation with Scientific Backing

So, what does it mean to say LSD increases entropy in neural networks? Let’s start with the basics. The brain is an immensely complex organ made up of billions of neurons communicating through electrical and chemical signals. These neurons don’t fire randomly but instead form patterns that correspond to thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Under normal circumstances, these patterns have a certain level of predictability and order - they reflect the brain’s stable networks supporting our daily functioning.

Entropy, in the context of neuroscience, is a measure of unpredictability or diversity in brain activity. A low entropy brain state is one where activity is highly ordered and predictable - think of focused attention or deep sleep. A high entropy state is more chaotic, with unpredictable, diverse, and less constrained neural firing. Psychedelics like LSD appear to increase this entropy, loosening the rigid connections and allowing for a flood of new information and novel neural pathways to emerge.

Robin Carhart-Harris and his colleagues have been central in articulating this idea through the Entropic Brain Hypothesis. In their 2014 paper, they proposed that psychedelics increase the entropy of spontaneous brain activity, pushing it towards criticality - a state between order and chaos thought to be optimal for information processing and adaptation. When entropy rises, the brain becomes less confined by standard networks, such as the Default Mode Network (DMN), which is involved in self-referential thinking and rumination.

Under LSD, studies show that the DMN’s usual coherence diminishes, allowing for increased connectivity between brain regions that don’t normally talk to each other. This creates a richer, more diverse field of mental experience, where new insights and sensations can emerge. It’s like shaking a snow globe - the usual patterns drift apart and reconfigure in surprising ways. This heightened entropy is thought to underlie many psychedelic effects: the dissolution of the ego, synesthesia, enhanced creativity, and emotional breakthroughs.

Neuroscientifically, this happens because LSD binds primarily to 5-HT2A serotonin receptors, particularly abundant in the cortex. Activation of these receptors leads to increased excitation of cortical neurons and enhanced glutamate release, which disrupts the usual inhibitory control and promotes a more chaotic firing pattern. This neurochemical shift increases the signal diversity across the brain’s network, raising its entropy. To put it simply, LSD relaxes the brain’s usual constraints, creating space for surprising neural conversations and novel patterns of thought.

3. Research and Evidence - Specific Studies Explored

The idea that LSD increases neural entropy isn’t just theory. There’s a growing body of empirical research confirming this phenomenon. Robin Carhart-Harris’s lab at Imperial College London has led much of the work, using advanced brain imaging techniques to map how psychedelics change brain activity.

One landmark study from 2016 by Carhart-Harris et al., published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, used magnetoencephalography (MEG) to measure brain activity under LSD. They found a significant increase in signal diversity - essentially a proxy for entropy - across the cortex. This means the brain’s electrical activity became less predictable and more varied, particularly in areas involved in high-level cognition and sensory processing. The increased entropy correlated with the intensity of the psychedelic experience reported by participants, linking brain chaos to subjective effects.

Another study from 2017 by Tagliazucchi and colleagues used functional MRI to assess changes in brain network dynamics during the psychedelic state. Their results showed increased global connectivity, particularly between the normally distinct sensory and associative networks. This supports the idea that LSD breaks down the usual boundaries between brain regions, allowing information to flow more freely, which increases entropy and the richness of experience.

Stanislav Grof’s earlier work, though less focused on neuroimaging, laid important groundwork by describing the psychological phenomenology of these experiences - ego dissolution, oceanic boundlessness, and heightened emotional awareness - that align with the idea of a brain operating at higher entropy. His insights have been echoed and expanded upon by later neuroscientists who link these subjective states to increased neural unpredictability.

Beyond LSD, recent research into other psychedelics like psilocybin, championed by Griffiths and colleagues at Johns Hopkins, also points to entropy increases as a common neural mechanism. Their 2018 study found that psilocybin reduced the stability of the DMN and enhanced brain-wide connectivity, mirroring the effects seen with LSD. This suggests that increased entropy is a shared property of classic psychedelics, underlying their therapeutic potential.

For those hungry for more context, Michael Pollan’s How to Change Your Mind offers an accessible dive into the history and science behind these findings, helping bridge the gap between neuroscience and lived experience.

4. Practical Application: What This Means for You

Understanding how LSD increases entropy in your brain can transform the way you approach psychedelic experiences. It’s not just about getting “trippy” or seeing wild visuals. It’s about temporarily opening the brain’s locked doors to chaos and novelty, which can reset old habits and cultivate fresh perspectives.

For people struggling with rigid thought patterns - like depression, anxiety, or PTSD - this entropy boost offers a neural space where stuck patterns can loosen. Bessel van der Kolk’s The Body Keeps the Score describes how trauma engrains itself in the nervous system, creating fixed neural loops of fear and avoidance. By temporarily increasing brain entropy, LSD can dissolve some of these entrenched circuits, making emotional healing possible.

In practical terms, this means going into an LSD experience with an intention to explore mental rigidity can be powerful. Set up your environment to encourage openness - dim lighting, calming music, and trusted company help maintain safety as your brain’s usual order temporarily unravels. Preparing with journaling, perhaps using a Journaling Notebook Leather Bound, can help clarify your intentions and later integrate insights.

During the experience, if you feel flooded by sensory input or emotions, remind yourself that the increase in neural entropy is part of the process. It’s your brain experimenting, firing off signals in new ways, and this temporary chaos can lead to remarkable clarity once things settle. Techniques like focused breathing and mindfulness can help anchor you when the entropy shifts feel overwhelming.

Integration after the trip is where these entropy-induced insights turn into lasting change. Use your journal to capture thoughts, feelings, and new perspectives. Reflect on where your thinking felt stuck before, and notice how the experience shifted those patterns. Over time, these neural changes can consolidate into healthier, more flexible ways of viewing yourself and the world.

5. Common Challenges and How to Work Through Them

It’s tempting to think that increasing brain entropy is an automatic ticket to healing. But it’s not always smooth sailing. When the brain’s usual order breaks down, the resulting chaos can feel disorienting or even frightening. One common challenge is the fear of losing control or experiencing anxiety during the trip.

These reactions stem from the fact that our sense of self is tied to certain neural networks that maintain a stable identity. When LSD disrupts these networks, the ego temporarily dissolves, which can feel like a loss of boundaries and safety. This experience can trigger panic, especially if someone isn’t prepared or feels unsupported.

Working through these challenges starts with preparation. Learning about what to expect - the fact that increased entropy means more random, less predictable brain activity - can help normalize the experience. Having a sitter or guide present who understands these dynamics is invaluable. They can offer grounding words, reassurance, and reminders that the chaos is temporary.

Another hurdle is post-trip confusion. After the brain’s entropy settles back down, it can be difficult to integrate the flood of insights and emotions. Without grounding practices, the experience can feel like a fleeting dream rather than a life-changing event. That’s why integration work is critical. Journaling, therapy, and community support can help translate the transient chaos into meaningful growth.

Sometimes, people mistake the increased brain entropy for a worsening of symptoms - like mood swings or increased anxiety - when in fact it’s the brain reorganizing itself. Patience is key. As Carhart-Harris and colleagues suggest, this period of instability is necessary before the brain settles into a new, healthier pattern. Therapists trained in psychedelic integration can be guides through this sometimes uncomfortable transition.

Lastly, it’s important to respect the limits of psychedelics. Not everyone will respond the same way to increased entropy. For some, especially those with certain psychiatric conditions, the chaotic state can exacerbate symptoms. That’s why careful screening, dosing, and professional support matter deeply. Understanding the power and unpredictability of increased neural entropy encourages a humble, respectful approach to these medicines.

6. Integration with Daily Life: The Long-Term Perspective

The increased entropy LSD brings isn’t permanent, but its echoes can ripple through your daily life if you’re willing to engage with them. I’ve found that the real work begins after the psychedelic experience, when you bring that loosened sense of mental order back into everyday routines.

Integration practices that help solidify new neural pathways and flexible thinking include meditation, journaling, creative expression, and movement. The brain loves repetition and reinforcement. The chaotic state during the trip creates a window where new ideas and perspectives can emerge, but daily practice cements those changes.

For example, after experiencing ego dissolution, some people notice a lasting shift in how they relate to their inner critic or negative self-talk. The increased entropy allowed them to see these patterns as just thoughts rather than absolute truths. Bringing that insight into meditation or mindful awareness helps maintain that shift.

In my work, I often recommend pairing psychedelic experiences with therapies that support trauma resolution or emotional processing. As Bessel van der Kolk highlights in The Body Keeps the Score, trauma lives not just in the mind but in the body’s nervous system. Psychedelics increase entropy and can loosen rigid trauma circuits, but healing deep wounds requires ongoing care.

Long-term, increased neural entropy during trips can lead to a more curious, open-minded approach to life. People report enhanced creativity, better emotional regulation, and more empathy. But these shifts aren’t automatic. They require intention, reflection, and patience. Writing in a journal - like a well-made leather-bound notebook - can be a daily ritual that helps track your evolving inner world.

In the bigger picture, understanding entropy in brain function encourages us to embrace the balance between order and chaos. Life isn’t about rigid control but about learning when to let go, allow unpredictability, and find creativity in the flux. LSD’s ability to increase entropy offers a glimpse of this dynamic dance, inviting us to live more fully in the mystery of the mind.

7. Closing Reflection: Embracing the Mystery Beyond Order

As I reflect on the way LSD increases entropy in neural networks, I’m struck by how it challenges our usual expectations about the mind. We often think of mental health as a matter of keeping thoughts neat and orderly, like a well-arranged desk or a clean room. But the brain, like nature itself, thrives on a delicate balance between order and chaos.

Increasing entropy isn’t about breaking down the mind into total disarray but about introducing enough disorder to make space for new patterns, fresh perspectives, and healing transformations. Much like jazz musicians who improvise by deliberately stepping away from predictable rhythms, the brain under LSD experiments, dances, and ultimately comes back enriched.

What if we carried this principle beyond the trip? What if we invited moments of healthy entropy into our daily lives - times when we let go of rigid thinking, embraced uncertainty, and allowed spontaneous connections to form? This might look like unplanned conversations, creative projects without a blueprint, or simply sitting with uncomfortable feelings without rushing to fix them.

It also invites a deep humility. We realize that our sense of self, our stable identity, isn’t a fortress but a fluid construction, constantly shaped by the patterns of neural firing. LSD lifts the curtain on this fluidity, revealing the mind’s capacity for change and renewal. This glimpse is both beautiful and unsettling, a reminder that beneath our surfaces lies a vibrant chaos waiting to be acknowledged.

In the end, understanding LSD’s effect on neural entropy encourages us to respect the mind’s complexity, to cherish moments of unpredictability, and to approach healing as a dance rather than a destination. It calls us to be patient with the messiness of growth and to find beauty in the interplay of order and disorder that defines our shared human experience.