Expanding Brain
The multi-panel 'galaxy brain' template ranking ideas from basic to absurdly enlightened as the brain lights up.
A vertical tier list of increasingly 'enlightened' (often ironic) takes. Each panel shows a more illuminated brain — from dim to rainbow cosmic — paired with labels that escalate from normal to ridiculous. Used to mock pretension or to jokingly crown a chaotic opinion as peak IQ.
History
An object-labeling / IQ-chart descendant that spread on Reddit and Twitter in early 2017 (Know Your Meme documents the Expanding Brain / galaxy-brain format's rise that year). It became one of the decade's default sarcasm formats, later remade on TikTok.
Cultural scores
Editorial estimates of cultural weight — Current Popularity tracks how much people are posting about this now, not historical fame.
Current Popularity = how actively people are posting about this today. Influence = lasting footprint. Cringe = online reception. Brainrot = absurdist energy. Scores last reviewed 2026-07-25. How scoring works
Timeline
Early 2017
Expanding Brain / galaxy-brain panel formats begin circulating widely
2017–2018
Becomes a default Reddit and Twitter sarcasm template
2018+
Endless remixes; often paired with other object-labeling memes
Examples
- “Level 1: Using an alarm · Level 4: Trusting the vibes to wake you up”
- “Basic take → mid take → cursed take → galaxy-brain take”
- “Ranking increasingly unhinged opinions with glowing brains”
Media
Related entries
Culturally linked — not random recommendations.
Distracted Boyfriend
MemeThe 2015 stock photo turned object-labeling meme — a man glances at another woman while his girlfriend looks shocked.
Philosoraptor
MemeThe contemplative dinosaur advice animal that asks half-profound, half-absurd philosophical questions in Impact font.
Wojak
MemeThe foundational 'Feels Guy' — a simple crying face that became the most versatile meme template on the internet.
Change My Mind
MemeThe folding-table sign meme — a man with coffee inviting debate under the caption 'Change My Mind.'
Drake Hotline Bling / Drakeposting
MemeThe Hotline Bling music-video stills that became the internet's default yes/no preference template — better known as Drakeposting.
Is This a Pigeon?
MemeAnime screenshot meme of a character misidentifying a butterfly as a pigeon — used for willful mislabeling jokes.
References
Sources behind this entry. Prefer primary reporting and established culture archives over rumor.
- Expanding Brain — Wikipedia search
en.wikipedia.org