ESCT v9.7: Quantitative Textual Correspondence Between a Multi-Scale Emergence Framework and Propofol EEG Signatures — Upgrading Computational Predictions to Literature-Grounded Eviden

ESCT v9.7 Title and Abstract Title ESCT v9.7: Quantitative Textual Correspondence Between a Multi-Scale Emergence Framework and Propofol EEG Signatures — Upgrading Computational Predictions to Literature-Grounded Evidence Short Title (for journal header) Multi-Scale Consciousness Emergence: ESCT Predictions Match Purdon 2013 EEG Quantitatively Abstract The Entropy Selection Consciousness Theory (ESCT) v9.6 proposed a multi-scale interpretive framework in which three mathematical formulations — v9.5 (microscale bistable neuronal dynamics), v9.4 (mesoscale frequency-domain filtering), and v8.1 (macroscale four-layer competitive ignition) — describe consciousness emergence at distinct spatiotemporal scales, generating three falsifiable predictions: a temporal ordering of noise-induced collapse T3 (macroscale) < T2 (mesoscale) < T1 (microscale), with calibrated power spectral density thresholds of 1.1, 6.1, and 96.0 uV2/Hz respectively. This supplement upgrades the evidential status of these predictions from computational simulation to direct quantitative textual correspondence with Purdon et al. (2013, PNAS), the primary empirical reference for propofol-induced consciousness transitions. Four specific quantitative statements are extracted from Purdon 2013 and mapped onto ESCT predictions: (1) loss of click responsiveness precedes loss of verbal responsiveness (T3 macroscale collapse, ESCT: 1.1 uV2/Hz, literature: 1–5 uV2/Hz); (2) median EEG frequency shifts from 23.1 to 12.0 Hz during the loss-of-consciousness transition, consistent with T2 mesoscale frequency filtering (ESCT: 6.1 uV2/Hz); (3) low-frequency power increases by more than 10-fold during profound unconsciousness, consistent with T1 microscale bistability saturation (ESCT: 96.0 uV2/Hz, literature-derived range: 50–150 uV2/Hz); and (4) the temporal ordering T3 < T2 < T1 is confirmed by Purdon 2013’s experimental sequence. All three ESCT predictions fall within published EEG power spectral density ranges for their corresponding anesthesia states. No new mathematical equations, free parameters, or open problems are introduced. v9.7 achieves evidential Levels 1 (directional consistency) and 2 (quantitative correspondence); Level 3 individual-subject statistical validation using the original PhysioNet dataset (doi:10.13026/m792-h077) remains as future work. These results support the positioning of ESCT as a theoretically grounded, mathematically closed, and empirically consistent framework for multi-scale consciousness emergence, suitable for submission to Frontiers in Theoretical Neuroscience or PLOS ONE as a theory and computational framework article. Qualia ∉ Domain(C-hat(ω,t)) — The Hard Problem is not solved. It is precisely bounded. Keywords multi-scale consciousness, propofol EEG, emergence dynamics, bistable neuronal dynamics, frequency-domain filtering, competitive ignition, noise threshold, power spectral density, anesthesia, ESCT, falsifiable predictions One-Sentence Cover Letter Summary This paper demonstrates that three quantitative predictions derived from the ESCT multi-scale framework — calibrated entirely from model-internal dynamics — fall within the empirically reported EEG power spectral density ranges of Purdon et al. (2013, PNAS) for the corresponding anesthesia states, with the predicted temporal ordering T3 < T2 < T1 confirmed by that study’s experimental sequence.