Thermodynamics of consciousness: A non-invasive perturbational framework
bioRxiv Preprint Server December 9, 2025 Tomas Berjaga-Buisan, Juan Manuel Monti, Martina Cortada et al. preprint
A non-invasive framework using generative whole-brain models of non-equilibrium dynamics reveals that violations of the Fluctuation-Dissipation Theorem (FDT) in spontaneous brain signals are reduced in unresponsive disorders of consciousness and anesthesia compared to conscious states, mirroring patterns seen with the Perturbational Complexity Index (PCI). This links PCI to fundamental physics principles and offers new objective, model-based tools for assessing consciousness loss and recovery.