The Liver Was the First Brain: The Liver–Brain Co-evolution Hypothesis (LBC Hypothesis)
Description
🧬 LIVER–BRAIN CO-EVOLUTION HYPOTHESIS (LBC v1.7)
The Liver–Brain Co-evolution Hypothesis (v2.1) presents a unified systems-biology framework in which the liver is identified as the primordial intelligent organ—the first controller of internal chemistry from which neural cognition evolved.
Across its Companions (B-series) and Supplements (D-series), the LBC corpus re-interprets physiology, medicine, and consciousness through control-theoretic logic: the liver operates as a proportional–integral–derivative (PID) regulator maintaining internal homeostasis, while the brain extends this predictive control to the external world.
The essays collectively demonstrate that intelligence began as metabolic prediction, later mirrored by neural anticipation. They explore themes from thermogenesis and regeneration to pharmacological interference, addiction, ecological integrity, and even electrochemical disturbance by metals.
The goal is integrative: to realign biology, medicine, and philosophy around the principle that life itself is a feedback system learning to maintain harmony between chemistry, energy, and consciousness.
Master Companion & Supplement Register
(updated 2025 November 16)
All works © Emile S. van der Merwe • CC BY 4.0 License • Independent Research Series
A – FOUNDATIONS / MAIN THESIS
| ID | Full Title | Short Footer Title | Theme Group | Version |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | The Liver Was the First Brain: The Liver–Brain Co-evolution Hypothesis | The Liver Was the First Brain | Foundations / Main Thesis | v1.1 (2025-11) |
LBC Companion Series — Master Table
|
ID |
Full Title |
Short Footer Title |
Theme Group |
Version |
|
A2 |
The Liver’s Uniqueness: The First Intelligent Organ in Evolution |
The First Intelligent Organ |
Foundations / Evolution |
v1.0 |
|
B01 |
Fix the Regulator: The Liver as the Gateway to Chronic Disease Reversal |
Fix the Regulator |
Applications / Medicine |
v1.0 |
|
B02 |
Fever as Hepatic Thermogenesis |
Fever as Hepatic Thermogenesis |
Function / Control Loops |
v1.0 |
|
B03 |
Cancer as a Loss of Liver–Brain Coherence |
Cancer as Loss of Coherence |
Failure / Regulation Breakdown |
v1.0 |
|
B04 |
Predictive Self-Reference Principle (PSRP™) |
Predictive Self-Reference Principle |
Meta-Cognition / Philosophy |
v1.0 |
|
B05 |
The Fine-Tuned Intelligence Principle |
Fine-Tuned Intelligence Principle |
Foundations / Evolution Physics |
v1.0 |
|
B06 |
The Soul as Informational Continuity |
Soul as Informational Continuity |
Philosophy / Continuity |
v1.0 |
|
B07 |
Pharmacological Interference and Biochemical Intelligence |
Pharmacological Interference |
Medicine / Regulation Noise |
v1.0 |
|
B08 |
Anesthesia and the LBC Hypothesis |
Anesthesia and LBC |
Consciousness / Boundary States |
v1.0 |
|
B09 |
Hepatic Thermogenesis Mini-Review |
Hepatic Thermogenesis Review |
Literature / Validation |
v1.0 |
|
B10 |
Evolutionary Stability Function (ESF) |
Evolutionary Stability Function |
Theory / Mathematical Framework |
v1.0 |
|
B11 |
From Chemical Self-Regulation to Conscious Self-Awareness |
Chemical → Conscious Awareness |
Foundations / Cognitive Transition |
v1.0 |
|
B12 |
The Liver as the Thermal Set-Point of Life |
Liver as Thermal Set-Point |
Thermodynamics |
v1.0 |
|
B13 |
The Liver as the Source of Fever |
Liver as Source of Fever |
Control Theory / Physiology |
v1.0 |
|
B14 |
The Regenerative Intelligence of the Liver |
Regenerative Intelligence |
Healing / Predictive Homeostasis |
v1.0 |
|
B15 |
Prescription vs Restoration: Redefining Healing Through LBC |
Prescription vs Restoration |
Medicine / Ethics |
v1.0 |
|
B16 |
The Hepatic–Neural Thermal Equilibrium Hypothesis |
Thermal Equilibrium Hypothesis |
Thermodynamics / Intelligence Link |
v1.0 |
|
B17 |
The Gut–Brain–Liver Axis: Predictive Integration |
Gut–Brain–Liver Axis |
Systems Integration / Tri-Loop Control |
v1.0 |
|
B18 |
Metallic Resonance: How Oral Electrochemistry Disrupts the Liver–Brain Axis |
Metallic Resonance |
Environmental Perturbation / Neurodegeneration |
v1.0 |
|
B19 |
Diabetes as a Breakdown of Liver–Brain Coherence |
Diabetes and LBC |
Metabolic Failure |
v1.0 |
|
B20 |
A Systems-Biology Critique of Virology Through the Lens of LBC |
LBC Critique of Virology |
Foundations / SM2.1 Analysis |
v1.0 |
|
B21 |
Strong as a Lion: Metabolic Strength and Hepatic Stability |
Strong as a Lion |
Applied Physiology |
v1.0 |
|
B22 |
Plant-Based Nutrition Through the Lens of LBC |
Plant-Based Nutrition and LBC |
Dietary Physiology |
v1.0 |
|
B23 |
Seed Oils: A Breakdown of Liver Control |
Seed Oils |
Nutrition / Hepatic Stress |
v1.0 |
|
B24 |
Bipolar Disorder as an Oscillatory Breakdown of Liver Control |
Bipolar Oscillation Model |
Neuro-Metabolic Cycles |
v1.0 |
|
B25 |
Depression as a Breakdown of Predictive Homeostasis |
Depression and Homeostasis |
Predictive Regulation |
v1.0 |
|
B26 |
Hypomania as a Temporary Loss of Liver Predictive Stability |
Hypomania and LBC |
Mood Dynamics / Coherence |
v1.0 |
|
B27 |
The Hepatic Portal System — Evolutionary Proof the Liver Was the First Intelligent Organ |
Portal System Evolution |
Foundations / Evolution |
v1.0 |
|
B28 |
Psoriasis Through the Lens of Liver–Brain Co-evolution |
Psoriasis |
Immune / Inflammatory Coherence |
v1.0 |
|
B29 |
Cardiac Arrest and the LBC Triad Collapse |
Cardiac Arrest and LBC |
Failure / Acute Events |
v1.0 |
|
B30 |
Emulsifiers and Their Impact on the Liver–Brain Axis |
Emulsifiers |
Environmental / Dietary Disruptors |
v1.0 |
|
B31 |
Osteoporosis — An LBC Perspective |
Osteoporosis |
Systemic Degeneration |
v1.0 |
📘 LBC Companion Series — Theme Group Map (Full System Overview)
The map is arranged by Theme Group, showing how each companion fits into the architecture of the Liver–Brain Co-evolution framework.
1. Foundations & Evolution (Core Theory of LBC)
(Explains why the liver was the first intelligent organ and how cognition evolved from biochemical control.)
|
ID |
Full Title |
Short Footer Title |
Version |
|
A2 |
The Liver’s Uniqueness: The First Intelligent Organ in Evolution |
The First Intelligent Organ |
v1.0 |
|
B05 |
The Fine-Tuned Intelligence Principle |
Fine-Tuned Intelligence Principle |
v1.0 |
|
B11 |
From Chemical Self-Regulation to Conscious Self-Awareness |
Chemical → Conscious Awareness |
v1.0 |
|
B20 |
A Systems-Biology Critique of Virology Through the Lens of LBC |
LBC Critique of Virology |
v1.0 |
|
B27 |
The Hepatic Portal System — Evolutionary Proof the Liver Was the First Intelligent Organ |
Portal System Evolution |
v1.0 |
2. Foundations / Evolution Physics & Mathematical Frameworks
(Formal structure, physical principles, evolutionary ratios.)
|
ID |
Full Title |
Short Footer Title |
Version |
|
B10 |
Evolutionary Stability Function (ESF) |
Evolutionary Stability Function |
v1.0 |
3. Foundations / Cognitive Transition & Philosophy
(Bridges biochemical intelligence to mind, self-reference, and continuity.)
|
ID |
Full Title |
Short Footer Title |
Version |
|
B04 |
Predictive Self-Reference Principle (PSRP™) |
Predictive Self-Reference Principle |
v1.0 |
|
B06 |
The Soul as Informational Continuity |
Soul as Informational Continuity |
v1.0 |
4. Foundations / Cognitive & Consciousness Boundary States
|
ID |
Full Title |
Short Footer Title |
Version |
|
B08 |
Anesthesia and the LBC Hypothesis |
Anesthesia and LBC |
v1.0 |
5. Thermodynamics & Temperature Regulation
(Thermal intelligence, set-points, fever, heat as regulation.)
|
ID |
Full Title |
Short Footer Title |
Version |
|
B12 |
The Liver as the Thermal Set-Point of Life |
Liver as Thermal Set-Point |
v1.0 |
|
B02 |
Fever as Hepatic Thermogenesis |
Fever as Hepatic Thermogenesis |
v1.0 |
|
B13 |
The Liver as the Source of Fever |
Liver as Source of Fever |
v1.0 |
|
B16 |
The Hepatic–Neural Thermal Equilibrium Hypothesis |
Thermal Equilibrium Hypothesis |
v1.0 |
6. Systems Integration / Tri-Loop Control
(Gut–Liver–Brain loops and metabolic coherence.)
|
ID |
Full Title |
Short Footer Title |
Version |
|
B17 |
The Gut–Brain–Liver Axis: Predictive Integration |
Gut–Brain–Liver Axis |
v1.0 |
7. Medicine / Clinical Applications
(Where LBC intersects with real-world disease reversal.)
|
ID |
Full Title |
Short Footer Title |
Version |
|
B01 |
Fix the Regulator: The Liver as the Gateway to Chronic Disease Reversal |
Fix the Regulator |
v1.0 |
|
B07 |
Pharmacological Interference and Biochemical Intelligence |
Pharmacological Interference |
v1.0 |
|
B15 |
Prescription vs Restoration: Redefining Healing Through LBC |
Prescription vs Restoration |
v1.0 |
8. Failure Modes / Regulation Breakdown
(When liver intelligence collapses → modern diseases.)
|
ID |
Full Title |
Short Footer Title |
Version |
|
B03 |
Cancer as a Loss of Liver–Brain Coherence |
Cancer as Loss of Coherence |
v1.0 |
|
B19 |
Diabetes as a Breakdown of Liver–Brain Coherence |
Diabetes and LBC |
v1.0 |
|
B29 |
Cardiac Arrest and the LBC Triad Collapse |
Cardiac Arrest and LBC |
v1.0 |
9. Mood & Cognitive Oscillation Disorders
(Liver-driven psychiatric dynamics.)
|
ID |
Full Title |
Short Footer Title |
Version |
|
B24 |
Bipolar Disorder as an Oscillatory Breakdown of Liver Control |
Bipolar Oscillation Model |
v1.0 |
|
B26 |
Hypomania as a Temporary Loss of Liver Predictive Stability |
Hypomania and LBC |
v1.0 |
|
B25 |
Depression as a Breakdown of Predictive Homeostasis |
Depression and Homeostasis |
v1.0 |
10. Nutrition / Energy / Metabolism
(Diet as liver input—carnivore, plant-based, toxins, additives.)
10A. Dietary Physiology & Metabolic Strength
|
ID |
Title |
Short |
Version |
|
B21 |
Strong as a Lion: Metabolic Strength and Hepatic Stability |
Strong as a Lion |
v1.0 |
|
B22 |
Plant-Based Nutrition Through the Lens of LBC |
Plant-Based Nutrition and LBC |
v1.0 |
|
B23 |
Seed Oils: A Breakdown of Liver Control |
Seed Oils |
v1.0 |
10B. Environmental / Dietary Disruptors
|
ID |
Title |
Short |
Version |
|
B30 |
Emulsifiers and Their Impact on the Liver–Brain Axis |
Emulsifiers |
v1.0 |
11. Environmental Perturbation & Toxicology
(Metals, oral electrochemistry, pollution effects.)
|
ID |
Full Title |
Short Footer Title |
Version |
|
B18 |
Metallic Resonance: How Oral Electrochemistry Disrupts the Liver–Brain Axis |
Metallic Resonance |
v1.0 |
12. Immune / Inflammatory Coherence
(Autoimmune, inflammatory cycles driven by liver.)
|
ID |
Full Title |
Short Footer Title |
Version |
|
B28 |
Psoriasis Through the Lens of Liver–Brain Co-evolution |
Psoriasis |
v1.0 |
13. Systemic Degeneration / Aging
|
ID |
Full Title |
Short Footer Title |
Version |
|
B31 |
Osteoporosis — An LBC Perspective |
Osteoporosis |
v1.0 |
14. Literature / Validation
(Scientific anchoring & external confirmation.)
|
ID |
Full Title |
Short Footer Title |
Version |
|
B09 |
Hepatic Thermogenesis Mini-Review |
Hepatic Thermogenesis Review |
v1.0 |
D – SUPPLEMENT SERIES (Applied, Integrative & Translational)
| ID | Full Title | Short Footer Title | Theme Group | Version |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D01 | Addiction as a Disorder of Dysregulated Homeostasis: Fixing the Liver to Heal the Mind | Addiction & Homeostasis | Clinical / Behavioural Application | v1.0 |
| D02 | Clean Liver, Clean World | Clean Liver, Clean World | Ecology / Holistic Governance | v1.0 |
| D03 | Ethanol Dependence and Withdrawal as Homeostatic Drift | Ethanol Dependence | Addiction / SM 2.1 Analysis | v1.0 |
| D04 | The LBC Revolution: Reframing Medicine Through Control Theory and Hepatic Intelligence | The LBC Revolution | Paradigm / Manifesto | v1.0 |
| D05 | Missing the Center: How Modern Science Overlooked the Liver’s Role in the Evolution of Intelligence | Missing the Center | History / Philosophy | v1.0 |
| D06 | Coffee, Milk, and the Liver–Brain Tempo: How Nutrients Shape Cognitive Coherence | Liver–Brain Tempo | Nutrition / Metabolic Timing | v1.0 |
Aknowledgements
The author acknowledges the assistance of AI-based tools (ChatGPT, OpenAI) for support in document structuring and formatting. These tools themselves are built upon the work of countless researchers, engineers, and contributors whose efforts made their development possible. All conceptual development, theoretical framing, and scientific claims were produced independently by the author. Finally, the author expresses gratitude to life itself — a continuous chain of chemical, metabolic, and neurological success across deep time — culminating in a consciousness able to contemplate its own origins.
Notes
Contact: via the website theliverbrain.com
Files
A1_The_Liver_Was_the_First_Brain_LBC_Hypothesis_v1.1.pdf
Files
(15.0 MB)
| Name | Size | Download all |
|---|---|---|
|
md5:9c33cb0b1b3948676bfcc54d9f16a6cd
|
2.0 MB | Preview Download |
|
md5:02833ac153f8578b3f7e5fac92037e2b
|
432.1 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:6e2c80689786e29bddfbf45e35d7c22f
|
422.7 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:82bab9f363d1a7138d6428076366509e
|
465.1 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:687420555600f7be9e2d758789cb97b4
|
320.6 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:4e3cf211bba3fb46357f7c9f2aaa7e4a
|
544.9 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:6014e76c893e3af21dac553502c7a3ce
|
458.0 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:a927fd793f323e9658a58d525491bb2c
|
294.3 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:f9786c6ddf37c32195da1dcd78ff892f
|
284.8 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:28aea75bcb6b1faced60a084aa1b6403
|
258.5 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:29ba235fd377957dbb7261b5f8481edf
|
389.5 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:49b02743d826b29756a402a727e28ebb
|
459.9 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:a2acd21f15f67726b4f8d434efe36542
|
252.6 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:6aa0c701750a930a083e772920ab44fb
|
326.6 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:ae63d4bc5d6c8e2ce1e8c56ee61ad23b
|
315.0 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:d0a9d11d29b5a51a7c04e13d5f15684f
|
286.0 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:4016e285ba21d73fc0a25398d9a969a0
|
345.1 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:c8f2bfb06318d52beef3838a3ff294ba
|
304.1 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:e137341af422c363ad7d9e2dca1fa615
|
338.5 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:a1321998b62643e20a3bb28cbb60b0f5
|
304.9 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:360959450a143ed9fac770695452c6f2
|
324.5 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:94dbe6bcdf79c928c60d3f00e35fc489
|
344.1 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:0a809708778966c50ee393f878cac498
|
340.4 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:c077d0e6c75ff75fd60f1d65a657c79a
|
311.4 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:b4f0eb00451bb36bfa23a13157d19ee4
|
329.1 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:e6ce13a4110cd71889d9719219daebe3
|
337.0 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:0d171af56c759a226e364cba03bd27cf
|
332.4 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:92c65f85f2415df1fbd9edcd189975b7
|
350.0 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:489367c9567dfd0c8f7e57724bbb4c18
|
372.5 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:0bb71286fac74395aad7341937d1f4a6
|
335.4 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:740fb6d69e4775ab71330c142854ab8c
|
306.8 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:bb9e1c50d2710a62caf671fcb64e21ac
|
314.7 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:891ee190685dfcde9813de1b6e8934f9
|
361.2 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:b2cf3a0e216bdbff4be2243e33f095f8
|
362.5 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:90324d52b60fc52608e7f4db3be11154
|
288.7 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:3e501dc08476823b3d90b15732772b38
|
315.1 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:41da1e339869edc2fd9f695c0b66ead6
|
254.3 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:7be1b1389a2b4d9256bb487b18c88a9b
|
322.3 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:108249fc8878bdca7991115c31d34b65
|
350.0 kB | Preview Download |
Additional details
Additional titles
- Alternative title (English)
- The Liver–Brain Co-evolution Hypothesis: A Systems Biology Framework for Intelligence and Homeostasis
- Alternative title (English)
- The Liver as the First Brain: Chemical Intelligence in Evolutionary Perspective
- Alternative title (English)
- From Chemistry to Consciousness: A Theoretical Model of Predictive Homeostasis
- Alternative title (English)
- Liver–Brain Integration and the Origins of Neural Intelligence
Related works
- Is supplement to
- Preprint: 10.5281/zenodo.17619803 (DOI)
- Preprint: 10.5281/zenodo.17636825 (DOI)
- Preprint: 10.5281/zenodo.17622231 (DOI)
- Preprint: 10.5281/zenodo.17624518 (DOI)
- Preprint: 10.5281/zenodo.17629009 (DOI)
Dates
- Created
-
2025-11-05Thesis written