Empirical Calibration

Grounding the five invariants in measurable neuroscience. This page documents how each framework variable maps to empirical measurements from consciousness research.

Overview

The calibration system transforms Conduit Monism from a theoretical framework into an empirically-testable model. Each of the five invariants is mapped to specific measurement proxies from peer-reviewed neuroscience literature.

HIGH CONFIDENCE

Direct measurement mapping with strong literature support

MODERATE CONFIDENCE

Indirect mapping requiring interpretation

LOW CONFIDENCE

Phenomenological inference or extrapolation

THEORETICAL

No empirical anchor available

Variable Mappings

ρ (Binding) ← PCI

HIGH CONFIDENCE

Binding maps directly to the Perturbational Complexity Index (PCI). PCI measures how a TMS perturbation propagates through the brain, creating complex, differentiated "echoes." This captures recursive self-reference: the system observing its own states.

Mapping: ρ = PCI (direct)

Wakefulness

PCI: 0.44-0.67 → ρ = 0.56

Propofol Anesthesia

PCI: 0.12-0.31 → ρ = 0.22

Ketamine

PCI: 0.35-0.55 → ρ = 0.45

PCI* Threshold

0.31 (100% accuracy)

Key Citations: Casali et al. (2013), Casarotto et al. (2016), Sarasso et al. (2015)

H (Entropy) ← LZc

HIGH CONFIDENCE

Entropy maps to Lempel-Ziv Complexity (LZc), a measure of signal compressibility that captures the unpredictability of neural dynamics. Higher LZc indicates more entropy in the system.

Mapping: H = 0.5 × (1 + percent_change_from_baseline)

Wakefulness (baseline)

H = 0.50

Propofol (-30%)

H = 0.35

Psilocybin (+18%)

H = 0.59

Ketamine (+10%)

H = 0.55

Key Citations: Schartner et al. (2015, 2017), Carhart-Harris et al. (2014)

τ (Temporal Depth) ← Temporal Integration Window

MODERATE CONFIDENCE

Temporal depth maps to the temporal integration window—the duration over which the brain binds information into a unified "now." The baseline window for waking adults is approximately 2-3 seconds (Pöppel 1997).

Mapping: τ = window_ms / 3000ms (normalized to baseline)

Normal waking

τ = 0.50 (baseline)

Anesthesia (collapsed)

τ = 0.10

Meditation (expanded)

τ = 0.80

DMT ("eternity")

τ = 0.90

Key Citations: Pöppel (1997), Wittmann (2015)

φ (Integration) ← Effective Connectivity

LOW CONFIDENCE

Integration maps to effective connectivity—the degree of causal interaction between brain regions. This is typically measured relative to a waking baseline, with reductions reported as percentages (e.g., 75% reduction under propofol).

Mapping: φ = 0.80 × (1 - percent_reduction/100)

Wakefulness (baseline)

φ = 0.80

Propofol (-75%)

φ = 0.20

REM Sleep (-25%)

φ = 0.60

Psychedelics (+10%)

φ = 0.88

Key Citations: Ferrarelli et al. (2010), Massimini et al. (2005)

κ (Coherence) ← Multi-Scale Entropy

LOW CONFIDENCE

Coherence maps to the structure within entropy—whether high-entropy states are organized (fractal, meaningful) or random (noise). Multi-Scale Entropy (MSE) and fractal dimension analysis provide proxies, but phenomenological reports remain the primary source for altered states.

Mapping: Phenomenological descriptors → κ values

Baseline waking

κ = 0.50

Seizure (stereotyped)

κ = 0.10

Flow state (high)

κ = 0.75

DMT (hyperdimensional)

κ = 0.90

Key Citations: Costa et al. (2005), phenomenological literature

Critical Threshold: PCI*

Casarotto et al. (2016) established PCI* = 0.31 as the threshold that separates conscious from unconscious states with 100% accuracy across a large clinical dataset including:

Healthy awake subjects
Patients under various anesthetics (propofol, xenon, midazolam, ketamine)
Patients in minimally conscious state (MCS)
Patients in vegetative state / unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (VS/UWS)
Locked-in syndrome patients (conscious but paralyzed)

Implication for Conduit Monism:

Since ρ maps to PCI, the threshold ρ = 0.31 provides an empirically-grounded boundary for consciousness. Systems with ρ < 0.31 are predicted to be unconscious.

Calibrated States

State	φ	τ	ρ	H	κ	D	Conf.
DMT Breakthrough	0.96	0.90	0.70	0.70	0.90	0.480	LOW
Deep Meditation	0.88	0.80	0.65	0.43	0.75	0.305	LOW
Flow State	0.92	0.70	0.70	0.45	0.75	0.301	LOW
Psilocybin	0.88	0.70	0.60	0.59	0.85	0.271	LOW
Wakefulness	0.80	0.50	0.56	0.50	0.50	0.121	LOW
Panic Attack	0.88	0.50	0.70	0.68	0.20	0.097	LOW
REM Sleep	0.60	0.50	0.45	0.48	0.50	0.073	LOW
Ketamine	0.48	0.25	0.45	0.55	0.50	0.029	LOW
NREM Sleep (N3)	0.40	0.35	0.23	0.40	0.30	0.016	LOW
Propofol	0.20	0.10	0.22	0.35	0.20	0.002	LOW
Xenon	0.16	0.10	0.17	0.33	0.20	0.001	LOW

Note: "LOW" confidence reflects that overall confidence is limited by the least-confident parameter (usually κ). Individual parameters may have higher confidence.

Key Findings

1. Zero-Elimination via ρ

Non-biological systems (corporations, weather, internet) have ρ = 0 because they lack neural substrates and recursive self-reference. The multiplicative formula ensures D = 0 regardless of other parameters.

2. Coherence Rescues Structured Entropy

DMT's high entropy (H = 0.70) is "rescued" by high coherence (κ = 0.90), yielding D = 0.480. Panic's identical entropy with low coherence (κ = 0.20) yields D = 0.097. The formula correctly distinguishes structured from random chaos.

3. Phenomenological Alignment

Calibrated densities match phenomenological reports: DMT ("more real than real") exceeds wakefulness; flow states and meditation exceed baseline; anesthesia approaches zero. The formula captures qualitative distinctions.

4. Ketamine Paradox

Ketamine maintains near-waking PCI (ρ = 0.45) despite producing unresponsiveness. This explains "dissociative" anesthesia: the binding is preserved (subjective experiences occur) even though behavior is absent.

Limitations

φ (Integration) lacks a direct, validated measurement proxy
κ (Coherence) relies heavily on phenomenological inference
Psychedelic state values are extrapolated from limited psilocybin data
Animal and AI values remain theoretical (no PCI measurements possible)
Within-state variability is significant but not captured
The overall confidence floor is LOW due to κ uncertainty

Key References

Casali et al. (2013) - A theoretically based index of consciousness (PCI)
Casarotto et al. (2016) - Stratification of consciousness using PCI
Sarasso et al. (2015) - Consciousness and complexity during anesthesia
Schartner et al. (2015, 2017) - LZc and psychedelics
Carhart-Harris et al. (2014) - Entropic brain hypothesis
Ferrarelli et al. (2010) - Breakdown of connectivity under anesthesia
Pöppel (1997) - Temporal integration window
Wittmann (2015) - Time perception in altered states