The Thermodynamics of the Self: A Proof of Concept Based on Real Data Preliminary Empirical Evidence of Entropic Rigidity and Neural Disintegration

This technical report presents a proof of concept for the "Self as a Dissipative Structure" model. Using Magnetoencephalography (MEG) data, we mapped brain dynamics across two axes: Lempel-Ziv Complexity (LZc) and Global Phase Synchrony. While this pilot study utilizes a limited sample (N=1 per group), the results demonstrate robust distinctions between Major Depression (Q2), characterized by entropic rigidity (LZc ≈ 0.05), and high-complexity states. The inclusion of phase synchrony allowed for the differentiation of functional health from psychotic disintegration, suggesting that the two-dimensional model can provide physical signatures for subjective mental states.