Refusal-Driven Dimensionality Reduction Theory (RDRT): Parameters, Empirical Support, and Experimental Planning

Abstract

Abstract Refusal-Driven Dimensionality Reduction Theory (RDRT) posits that phenomenal consciousness—qualia, selfhood, and the illusion of free will—emerges as obligatory residues from enforced halts ("refusals") in recursive self-prediction processes, driven by finite energetic resources in bounded neural systems. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of RDRT, focusing on three core elements: (1) a detailed description of the key parameters (subjective mental temperature T_M, contextual factor π_context, safety buffer M_safety, and subjective time flow Ψ), their physical meanings, inverse quantities, and interrelationships, including the unifying equation Ψ ≈ (T_M × π_context) / M_safety, the quasi-invariant K, the bivalent nature of T_M (balancing "cold" clarity with "warm" growth), and parameter conversion across cognitive channels; (2) reinterpretations of existing EEG studies on gamma oscillations that indirectly support RDRT by showing transient suppressions as proxies for refusals, incorporating both eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions with refined temporal signatures (200–500 ms dips); and (3) planning for a targeted laboratory experiment, with alternatives for home-based pilots using high-density EEG or Muse devices to detect gamma dips preceding behavioral markers of refusal moments, incorporating multimodal switches, closed-eyes protocols, and millisecond-scale analysis for enhanced detection. Keywords: phenomenal consciousness, recursive self-prediction, thermodynamic refusal, subjective time flow, gamma oscillations, EEG, bivalent temperature, parameter conversion, closed-eyes EEG, RDRT