The thermodynamics of cognition: A mathematical treatment.

Eva Deli,Zoltán Kisvárday,James Peters

doi:10.1016/j.csbj.2021.01.008

Abstract

There is a general expectation that the laws of classical physics must apply to biology, particularly the neural system. The evoked cycle represents the brain's energy/information exchange with the physical environment through stimulus. Therefore, the thermodynamics of emotions might elucidate the neurological origin of intellectual evolution, and explain the psychological and health consequences of positive and negative emotional states based on their energy profiles. We utilized the Carnot cycle and Landauer's principle to analyze the energetic consequences of the brain's resting and evoked states during and after various cognitive states. Namely, positive emotional states can be represented by the reversed Carnot cycle, whereas negative emotional reactions trigger the Carnot cycle. The two conditions have contrasting energetic and entropic aftereffects with consequences for mental energy. The mathematics of the Carnot and reversed Carnot cycles, which can explain recent findings in human psychology, might be constructive in the scientific endeavor in turning psychology into hard science.

Highlights

Rudolf Clausius introduced the concept of entropy to measure the amount of energy in a system that cannot produce work
Chemistry, and biology have focused on the relationship between information and energy [16,125,42,33]
We examined the thermodynamic consequences of negative emotions

Summary

Definitions used in the test

Mental energy entails metacognitive monitoring, related to intrinsic motivation, which predicts enhanced performance, learning, and creativity, and it plays a vital role in personality development and wellness across the lifespan [130,131]. It is a long-term ability based on mental fluidity that allows trust, belief, and confidence [38]. Temperature is the manifestation of thermal energy in physics, and its social analog is emotional temperature. Abundance ensures low social temperature, with a tendency for cooperation and generosity [161]. On a high social temperature, high-frequency information transfer through synaptic connections promotes deterministic actions

Introduction

The role of temporal orientation in perception

Thermodynamic considerations of brain activities

Negative emotional states

Social consequences

Conclusions and future directions