EET Neural Measurement Protocol: Operational Mapping from Constraint Parameters to Neural Signals

This document establishes the authoritative technical standard for measuring Energy-Efficiency Theory (EET) cognitive parameters using neural and physiological signals. It provides the Rosetta Stone that translates abstract EET variables—η, Icausal, $A(t)$, d, Eb, M—into concrete, measurable observables from fMRI, EEG/MEG, DTI, pupillometry, and behavioral assays. The core of this standard is the Parameter-Measurement Mapping Table (§1.2), which specifies for each EET parameter: • Its neural correspondence (the physical interpretation in neural terms). • Gold-standard measurement (the most direct, valid operationalization). • Proxy measurements (alternative, lower-cost operationalizations). • Calibration tier (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary). We provide detailed, protocol-level specifications for: • η measurement: Global η via DMN/TPN anti-correlation; spectral η (ηθ, ηα, ηγ) via EEG power and phase coupling. • Icausal measurement: Cross-level causal integration via θ-γ phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) and Perturbational Complexity Index (PCI), plus emerging methods from Partial Information Decomposition (PID). • A(t) measurement: Response pool accumulation via ACC BOLD signal and pupillometry. • d measurement: Submersion depth via DTI fractional anisotropy (FA) and behavioral automaticity. • Eb measurement: Meltdown barrier via belief revision resistance and counter attitudinal neural activation. • M measurement: Spiritual consolidation via composite indices of longitudinal stability and structural connectivity. • Sleep measurements: SWS slow-wave density, REM spindle density, and their relation to Algorithmic Submersion. Version 1.1 integrates external validation from 2025--2026 advances: criticality as the basis for novelty detection, multiscale DMN/TPN anti-correlation states, and synergistic information decomposition as a refined proxy for conscious integration. A three-tier calibration hierarchy (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary) enables researchers with varying resources to operationalize EET parameters. Standardized preprocessing pipelines and statistical power requirements ensure reproducibility. : EET; neural measurement; η; Icausal; phase-amplitude coupling; DMN; TPN; partial information decomposition; DTI; pupillometry; EEG; fMRI; technical standard