The Field-Cell Self: A Falsifiable Mechanistic Identity Hypothesis for Conscious Neural Rendering

The paper proposes the Field-Cell Self, a falsifiable hypothesis within Self-Aware Networks, asking whether a specific field-cell episode itself constitutes experience rather than a hidden observer's output, and when memory, embodiment, and action-return make successive episodes a single self. It separates the SAN field-cell synthesis, a field-as-content prediction, and the mechanistic identity hypothesis, defining a reference-invariant model, phase-wave differentials, and a Shannon-bounded distinction among tonic predictability, PWD surprisal, and conditional target information. It outlines eligibility criteria, compares alternative theories, and proposes seven discriminating experiments. Existing field effects do not establish the identity claim, and even favorable tests would support abductive inference, not proof. No new experiments or data are reported.

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Abstract

This theory-and-methods preprint develops the Field-Cell Self, a falsifiable companion hypothesis within Self-Aware Networks. It asks whether an eligible differentiated, recurrent, receiver-dependent field-cell episode is the experience rather than an output for a hidden observer, and separately asks when memory, embodiment, perspective, action-return closure, and trajectory linkage make successive episodes one diachronic embodied self. The paper separates independently supported components, the SAN field-cell synthesis, a field-as-content prediction, and the mechanistic identity hypothesis. It defines a reference-invariant field-cell model, phase-wave differentials, a Shannon-bounded distinction among tonic predictability, PWD surprisal, and conditional target information, NAPOT, operational eligibility criteria, comparisons with major alternative theories, and seven discriminating experiments. Existing field effects, decoding, report, and synthetic implementation do not establish the identity claim. Even jointly favorable tests would support an abductive identity inference rather than direct observation or deductive proof. No new human or animal experiment or neural dataset is reported.