Dreams as Continuity Dynamics: A Ledger-Based, Invariant-First Science of Nocturnal Simulation

This manuscript introduces a third path for dream research—distinct from both neurophysiological and interpretive traditions—by treating dreams as outputs of a lawful, observable dynamical system. It proposes a minimal, invariant-first measurement framework that emphasizes structural coherence, discontinuity load, recall clarity, and behavioral persistence. Crucially, recall is modeled as a gate, not a nuisance variable, and nights with no recall are preserved as valid observations within a recall-hurdle framework. All data are recorded in an append-only, tamper-evident DreamLedger, ensuring longitudinal integrity and preventing retrospective distortion. The focus is on within-subject distributions across time, not isolated dream episodes, enabling stable hypothesis testing and falsification. Three candidate laws are proposed, including: A recall–coherence stabilization effect, A dissociation between salience and behavioral persistence, and A threshold model of recall clarity at which coherence shifts from degradation to stabilization. This approach reframes dreams not as narrative content but as structurally measurable phenomena—offering a falsifiable, cumulative substrate for integrating phenomenology and physiology without interpretive collapse.