Affective–Somatic Collapse as a Controlled Phase Transition in Self-Regulatory Systems: A Theoretical Framework

Dysregulation of affective processing is a central feature of trauma-related psychopathol- ogy, particularly in conditions involving chronic developmental stress. While contemporary biological psychiatry emphasizes neurochemical and cognitive mechanisms, the neurophysi- ological role of bottom-up somatosensory modulation in homeostatic reorganization remains underexplored. This paper proposes the hypothesis of Affective–Somatic–Symbolic Collapse (ASSC) as a transdiagnostic, state-dependent regulatory process. We posit that specific, local- ized sensory perturbations (intentional somatic touch) can trigger a non-linear phase transition in the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), forcing a reset from a rigidified sympathetic attrac- tor to a homeostatic equilibrium. Grounded in Dynamic Systems Theory and the Free Energy Principle, this model reframes transient somatic destabilization not as a pathological failure, but as a functional error-minimization mechanism. We outline testable predictions regarding Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and neural connectivity, offering a mechanistic framework for non-pharmacological interventions in treatment-resistant trauma. Note: This manuscript presents a theoretical framework and does not claim clinical validation or therapeutic applicability at this stage. It serves as a conceptual foundation for the Guardian Brain adaptive control architecture.