Metabolic Lucidity Model (MLM)

Abstract

The Metabolic Lucidity Model (MLM) proposes a unified dynamical–energetic framework describing transitions between REM and lucid REM sleep as bifurcation phenomena within a regulated physiological state-space. The model formalizes lucidity as a supercritical Hopf regime emerging from the interaction between REM phase depth (ρ) and autonomic stability indexed by heart rate variability (RMSSD). In contrast to purely phenomenological or neurochemical accounts, MLM defines lucidity as a bounded oscillatory stability domain governed by explicit control variables: REM phase depth (ρ) vagal regulation (HRV/RMSSD) dopaminergic modulation (DA) internal noise scaling (σ) metabolic resource availability (E) Lucidity is mathematically defined via a state operator whose zero-crossing corresponds to a bifurcation threshold, while sustained lucid episodes require energetic viability under astrocyte-mediated metabolic buffering constraints. The framework integrates: bifurcation theory and Hopf normal form reduction, autonomic regulation theory, inverted-U dopaminergic modulation, stochastic stability geometry, and metabolic resource dynamics. MLM generates falsifiable predictions including: a measurable HRV-dependent lucidity threshold during REM, nonlinear stability boundaries consistent with supercritical Hopf dynamics, finite lucid duration constrained by energetic depletion, and optimal Wake-Back-To-Bed (WBTB) timing as trajectory perturbation in state-space. The model operates at a mesoscopic abstraction level and does not claim reduction of consciousness to five parameters. Instead, it proposes a structural dynamical regime interpretation of lucid REM that is empirically testable using polysomnography and ECG-derived RMSSD measures. This version (v1.0) represents the first formal release of the Metabolic Lucidity Model.