The Gated Staged Collapse Framework (GSCF): A Conceptual Dynamical Systems Model of Consciousness and Psychopathology (Pre-Empirical)

This registration describes the Gated Staged Collapse Framework (GSCF), a theoretical, multi-stage model of cognitive processing and psychopathology. The framework integrates attractor dynamics, loop theory, and phenomenological observations to generate falsifiable predictions about collapse, snapback, and recovery dynamics in humans. Key elements: Nine-stage architecture of cognition, from salience gating to meta-cognition Proposed behavioral paradigms (PRRT, HAT) designed for future empirical testing Conceptual explanations for rigidity, rumination, and perceptual re-domination Potential applications to therapy, cognitive modeling, and AI reasoning systems No empirical data has been collected at this stage; this registration establishes the framework, ensures intellectual priority, and allows future researchers to reference or collaborate on empirical testing. Expected outcomes: The framework provides a conceptual bridge between dynamical systems theory and clinical psychology, with testable predictions regarding recovery patterns and attentional collapse.