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

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. Its conclusions are limited to the assumptions, evidence, and testing conditions stated in the manuscript. It belongs to the Self-Aware Networks neuroscience and consciousness research program. This is a corrected preprint edition released under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.