For centuries, we’ve been told that reality is something external, something we passively perceive as it flows in through our senses. But what if the opposite is true? What if our perception of reality is not a direct reflection of the external world but something that’s being filtered and manifested from within us?
This might sound controversial, even radical, but it’s a possibility that cannot be ignored in light of recent developments in quantum physics and consciousness studies. One theory that sheds light on this is the Holographic Principle — a mind-bending concept that suggests all the information contained within a volume of space can be encoded on its 2D surface, much like a hologram.
The Holographic Principle: A Framework for Perception?
Here’s the idea: According to the Holographic Principle, the universe’s fundamental information is encoded in a 2D plane, but what we experience as 3D reality is actually a projection of that information. Think of it like a hologram: all the information needed to create a 3D image is stored on a 2D surface. When it’s projected, the image appears three-dimensional — even though, at its core, it’s not.
Now, apply this concept to consciousness and perception. What if the world we perceive — the physical, tangible reality around us — is not being processed from external inputs, but from information that’s projected from within us? What if our brains are decoding this holographic information and creating the 3D reality we experience?
To visualize this concept, consider how information density and connectivity might influence the organization of reality, as shown in the diagram below. The arrow of time emerges from the flow of information, suggesting that the structure of the universe is inherently tied to how information is distributed and processed.
Perception from Within: Microtubules and Quantum Processing
Here’s where it gets even more interesting: Researchers have proposed that microtubules — tiny structures within our brain cells — might act as quantum processors, capable of interacting with quantum information at an incredibly small scale. These microtubules could very well be the key to understanding how the Holographic Principle relates to consciousness.
Instead of reality entering through our senses from an external world, perhaps microtubules are filtering quantum information from a deeper, more fundamental level of the universe. In this scenario, reality isn’t something that’s “out there” waiting to be seen, but something that is internally processed and then projected outward as perception.
This idea becomes even more intriguing when we consider the role of microtubules in our brains. As the diagram shows, these quantum processors could be responsible for filtering the encoded information from within, creating the perception of reality that we experience.
A Radical Shift in Understanding Reality
If this is true, then what we call reality may be a subjective phenomenon — a projection, filtered through our internal quantum systems, emerging from deeper layers of encoded information. Just as sound is an interpretation of vibrations, reality could be an interpretation of encoded data stored within the universe’s informational structure.
This challenges everything we’ve believed about perception. No longer are we passive observers in a universe made of independent objects. Instead, we may be active participants, generating our experience of the world from within, based on how our minds process and interpret the encoded information that makes up the very fabric of reality.
What If We’re Creating Reality From Inside Out?
The controversial idea that reality might be an internally generated phenomenon forces us to rethink what it means to perceive, to experience, and to exist. Instead of being products of our environment, we may be manifesting that environment as a result of the way our consciousness interacts with the universe’s encoded information.
This opens up a vast new frontier of thought. If perception comes from within, what role do we play in shaping reality? Are we merely interpreters of data, or are we, in some sense, creators of the world we see? As we continue to explore these questions, the boundary between the self and the universe becomes blurrier, leading us to question the very nature of existence.
Reference:
The International Space Federation (ISF) | Nassim Haramein