Can Consciousness Nudge Randomness?
Journal of Scientific Exploration March 26, 2026 Ulf Holmberg
A new framework called the Cognitive Entropy Shift Model (CESM) proposes that specific cognitive states—passive emotional attention and goal-directed intention—can subtly bias probabilistic systems by reducing entropy. A two-year controlled experiment using a physical random number generator found statistically significant deviations from randomness during periods of heightened emotional attention, with effect sizes of 0.5–0.7%. The effect weakened with increasing spatial distance from the presumed source of influence. The paper also applies CESM to reinterpret earlier studies, distinguishing between passive and active cognitive engagement within a quantifiable statistical model that supports testable predictions.