MetaFlow Research Library
Architecture-First Metacognitive Framework
This is the fundamental framework to our operations
It incorporates Theoretical aspects of Cognitive Science, Psychology, Neuroscience, and Systems Thinking in order to
organize and delineate the processess of the mind.
Architecture-First Metacognitive Framework
Metacognitics Defining and Engineering The Mind
With Recursive Integrative Algorithmic Cognition (RIAC)
__________________________________________
Introduction
The Architecture First Metacognitive Framework is a structured assortment of mental tools and techniques that can help you better understand your mind and operate it with greater fluency. Rooted in neuroplasticity and grounded in self-reflective practice, this framework provides a meta-level approach to developing and identifying latent thought-processes, balancing emotional-cognitive dynamics, and executing explicitly crafted thought-mechanisms through a process called Thought Sequencing. When building an organized thought-system, it's important to define new terminology for emerging thought-patterns. Please refer to the glossary when new terms are introduced. (Check document tabs for Glossary)
While the foundational layers are accessible to anyone, this framework is especially suited for those seeking a high degree of cognitive fluency and self-directed optimization. When applied deliberately, this framework empowers you to understand and actively guide your mental processes.
In an age marked by distraction, dissociation, and emotional imbalance, this framework enables you to foster adaptive thought-patterns. Although our brains are adaptable and capable of reconfiguration, it is important to note that there is a biological basis that cannot be overridden, and as such, neurological disorders will still persist even with a comprehensive understanding of this framework. This understanding can still provide insight into an architectural lens of cognition, and with repeated work, can utilize neuroplasticity to configure self-authored thought-mechanisms that foster an adaptive approach to your everyday life. By doing so, this framework offers to not only elucidate the processes in the mind, but also to demonstrate the capability to actively reshape how you think, decide, and process the world.
Throughout this text, you will be introduced to novel concepts regarding cognitive thought-processes. These concepts will be in relation to a viewpoint that the conscious environment is fully interactable. These terms and ideas will be explained in a tiered manner, with abstract and practical explanations. In the advanced sections, it will be paramount to have a strong grasp on these concepts, as they will be implemented into logical thought sequencing techniques that you can extrapolate for your own use. It is important to simulate your intended goals. This will help orient your mind toward a meta-level approach — a necessary step in fully engaging with the framework. This framework can be used as a means to better understand yourself, facilitate self-improvement, obtain cognitive enhancement, and develop a systems-level thinking mindset.
Table of Contents
________________________________________
Building Awareness
Metacognition is a self-improvement tool
The mind is full of patterns
Emotions influence the direction of our thought processes
Changing the way you think is an active process
Environment is a substrate for your mindset
Applied Awareness
Architectural Perspective
A defineable mindset is operational
Definitions give thoughts tangibility
Metacognition is a separate thought-process
All thought-patterns can be actively modified
Points of reference are holistically applicable
Recursion as a basis for metacognition
Metacognitics & Thought-Sequencing
Context-Oriented Thinking
The brain is a prediction engine
Thought patterns are built around context
Context defines the scope of thought
Reference Delineation
Finding references
Denoting a reference
Contextual definition of a reference
Delineation is dependent on overall state
Applied Reference Delineation
Metacognitive Thinking as a Primary Thought-Process
Architectural approach to thought-processes
Top-Cycle and hierarchy of algorithms
Abstract problem-solving
Cognitive load and timing to induce better balance
Interoceptive signals as a basis for fuzzy logic
How metacognition solves problems
Thought-Sequencing & Meta-Analysis
Thought-Sequencing and Reference Delineation
Foundations to facilitate an architectural mindset
Defining appropriate approach methods
Subconscious integration
Assessing states and building around potentialities
Applied Thought-Sequencing
Recursive Thought-Mechanisms
System-Layering Abstraction
Thought-Engines
Looping as a basis for processing
Disruptive Cycles as inefficient processing
An accumulation of thought-patterns need to be recognized to establish a workable cognitive architecture.
Generative processing as a functional tool
Thought sequencing necessary for an adaptable thought-engine
RIAC as a basis for all cognition
Recursion is applied in the subconscious to filter and resolve internal conflict
Timing chains can be regulated and adapted holistically
Definitions are context building waypoints
Thought-Sequencing as a secondary thought-mechanism
Fractal Consciousness
Subconscious pattern-building and emotional reference balance
Denoting a reference hierarchy
Falling victim to spiraling
Important considerations when working through meta-levels
Section I: Building Awareness
Metacognition is a self-improvement tool
Metacognition is the mental practice of thinking about thinking. By becoming aware of how your mind comes to conclusions, you are able to adapt to situations with increased clarity. We can find practical applications of this in our daily lives, like learning how our mind works and being able to change disruptive thought-patterns. Practicing Metacognition leads to many cognitive benefits such as increased internal awareness, improved memory, and higher efficiency thought-processes.
In using metacognition, we can take an analysis of the mind and determine what factors are contributing to disruptive thought-patterns. By observing how different thought-processes interact with one another, we can begin to build a perspective that encompasses our internal cognitive environment. With this perspective in place, we can use it to improve and adjust our thinking.
Our thinking can be observed by effectively ‘zooming-out’ of our regular focus. We need to use our focus inward, to see ourselves, and the thoughts that our behavior is predicated on. An inexperienced metacognitive thinker will no doubt be distracted by all of the thought-patterns that generally fill the mind. With thoughts moving in all directions, they bring a high level of influence that directs your focus on topics that may or may not be relevant. It is important to recognize the necessity of a still mind, one that doesn’t get influenced by thoughts unless you explicitly state them in the first place. In this fashion, we can become more proactive with our thinking, instead of reactive. A reactive mindset will create outcomes that can be generally unfavorable. These are things like emotional reactions to simple problems that in turn leave you to not look for a solution, but to fall victim to the grasp of rage, anxiety, fear, or even pleasure.
Building your internal awareness is not only a necessity for understanding this framework, it is also a fundamental tool for living a life free from internal distortions and dissonance. By cultivating this awareness, you are effectively increasing your metacognitive strength, allowing you to hold ‘heavier’ thoughts or ideas. Recognizing all of the different patterns that occur in your mind gives a key insight into the underlying mechanisms of cognition, elucidating processes that can be taken hold of, assessed, rearranged, and adapted to any circumstance.
Changing the way you think is an active process
Not only does it take time, but it also takes a substantial amount of effort to build an intuitive-level of awareness when it comes to metacognition. Practice daily is paramount, and for someone looking for an integrative thought-system, this practice becomes a default part of who you are.
For people with no introspective awareness, understanding this framework could take months with daily practice. This framework is designed with beginners in mind, but ultimately exists as an abstract framework built around recursive thinking-patterns. As such, it is recommended to have a high degree of internal awareness before diving into the more advanced sections.
With good habits developed around ways to keep your metacognitive awareness levels high, we can begin to see how our habit building process works. What other good habits might you want to build? It’s important to understand that each habit is a thought-pattern with a lot of individual pieces that may take time to become fully comprehended. This process takes time, and sometimes the best course of action is to just sleep on it. Becoming overwhelmed may occur, but now you just got an opportunity to assess if being overwhelmed is the right decision in the first place.
The mind is full of patterns
Thought-patterns make up our routines, habits, and are an essential part of how we do things. Knowing how to use a power-tool is a thought-pattern that changes with how much experience and knowledge you’ve gained while using one. Having a favorite food is a thought-pattern. Our cognitive infrastructure is built on these patterns that get produced on a case-by-case basis, dictated by the interpretation of the situation. We can recognize that a power-tool might have more application on a job site rather than a professional kitchen. Of course, if we use our creativity, then there may be an indefinite amount of uses for said power-tool, but is it appropriate in a professional culinary context?
We can use our innate pattern recognition to identify these patterns. This is called Metacognitive Pattern Recognition. You can use metacognitive pattern recognition to identify components of the mind — like your emotions and individual thought-patterns. Thought-patterns are like blueprints that your mind constructs, applying individual features to similar sets of circumstances. Your mind identifies the content of the blueprint as relevant, and then constructs it in real-time.
Emotions influence the direction of our thought-processes
Within human behavior, we can see that emotions play a huge role in the decision making process. You may be influenced by your favorite food which has a strong emotional-tie to it. You may just be hungry, and the idea of food itself has a strong enough emotional-tie to guide your behavior. The taste, texture, and the feeling of satiating your hunger all-in-one gets brought to your attention and drives your behavior based on this layering of emotions. Being able to observe these influences, you can analyze the individual thought-patterns facilitating them. Taking the time to make predictions about how new circumstances might influence you gives you the ability to adapt your mind to whatever novel challenges face you.
Our emotional states have such a large impact on our behavior that it makes it easy to see how much influence they have on our thinking. Emotions are essentially packaged ideas of what it means to feel a certain emotional-affective signal. This signal is the combined state in which general consciousness can perceive an emotional feeling. These are concepts that are obviously heavily influenced by emotional-interpretative dynamics — the interplay between what impact an emotion can have on varying circumstances.
Emotional-affective signals are the feeling of emotion but without any conceptual ties, essentially a raw interpretation. An easy signal to denote is a dopaminergic response to reward. This is observed to be useful for long term memory consolidation. Emotional signals can be handled by a varying number of thought-patterns.
An Emotional Context will build your thought-patterns around the circumstances of a situation, and the overarching emotional tone guiding them. In a context of rage, we’re not expecting rational dialogue. We can expect activation of the sympathetic nervous system, resulting in potential physical aggression and shouting, among others. This is dependent on the context variables present at the time. One person's rage is another person’s learning opportunity.
Environment is a substrate for your mindset
Within our lives we are faced with choices constantly. We make decisions based on our past experiences within similar circumstances. We juggle new information, assessing it with relation to our intended goals and belief structures. We have to plan out our day; get up, go to work, eat, sleep and repeat. Of course not everyone follows the same loop. People get up at different times, go to different jobs, live in retirement, unemployment, or go to school. Different cultures have different loops. Maybe you have to walk miles to retrieve water for your family. Perhaps you didn’t get to sleep last night because there was fear of an enemy assault on your position based on the intel given to you by someone you’ve never met. Some people may have zero contact with any other individuals, so all of their intel comes from themselves. Some people suffer from mental conditions that make it seem like their thoughts are actually injected by others, or even god. Some people question every word that they face, while others pay no mind. What exactly facilitates this difference between beings of the same species? There are drastically different outcomes between individuals, yet there seems to be an underlying pattern. This pattern is indicative of the adaptability of human cognition, and the importance of coherent thought.
All of these environmental factors are components to your thought-processes, stored away in long term memory. If you think of your memory as a hierarchy, you would be able to see that the first thoughts you’ve ever had would be the influence to all the rest of the thoughts developed throughout a lifetime. This implies that childhood experiences are the basis for all conceptualization. These influence what language we speak, how we speak it, and who we speak it to. This is where belief systems begin to develop by influence of parenting or others during this critical period. Being able to understand the circumstances and delineate the references that are crucial to your cognitive infrastructure gives you a high degree of fluency within your system. Being objective is a necessity, but due to these root latent references being highly emotionally-charged, will have to be kept in balance. This balancing procedure can be applied to any similar situation involving highly charged emotional signatures.
Applied awareness
Building metacognitive awareness is like becoming aware of something that you’ve already been doing, like a room we always walk past on the way in but have never taken the time to look and see what it's for. Everyone uses metacognition, but few use it deliberately. By taking a more metacognitive approach towards life, you are efficiently utilizing the system in your brain responsible for organizing your thought-processes, giving you control of how you react and behave on a finite level. Here are some situations and perspectives that can help with the inference of metacognitive concepts.
Having a bad day can stem from multiple different roots. You have to consider things in a logical order-of-events. What was the first thing that set your mood off today? Did you get enough sleep or have nightmares? Did you follow your normal routine? These are all things that have a severe impact on the trajectory of our day in regards to cognitive stability. Lack of sleep is a huge contributing factor to brain-fog, or cognitive dissonance, and can set the tone for your day, and potentially a few days after due to the sleep-cycle being disrupted. We can have a lot of expectations that need to be fulfilled for us to feel ‘okay’ or ‘ready’ for the day. These expectations are nestled into our habits and as such are reflected in our daily routines. If you didn’t catch that cup of coffee on time, you could be thinking that the day is doomed to fail due to your lack of energy. It’s important to recognize here that maybe there are some alternative perspectives that could be taken. Maybe a day without coffee is a ‘Challenge Day’ and that could reframe your entire context into a productive one just by associating the word ‘Challenge’. Metacognition helps us identify these aspects of our thinking, and allows us to creatively overcome some of the challenges we may face within our expectant minds.
Expectations serve as narrowing blinders that constrain an entire thought-pattern, and influence the thought-system as a whole. Expectations can be associated with any concept you may face, and is primarily influential in goal-setting. We can expect what work will be like tomorrow, with a degree of accuracy. We can also expect to find the love of our life at work tomorrow as a new hire, but that isn’t very probable, so we’d generally classify that type of thinking as ‘dreaming’. This ‘dreaming’ can be done when setting goals as well. Viewing metacognition as this amazing tool that can solve all of your problems and all you have to do is just use it sounds too good to be true, and it is. That is because metacognition will only work as well as the operator who’s using it. It’s a tool just like any other, and requires constant practice to build enough familiarity to be used to its full potential. Having the expectation that you just have to ‘use it’ enough is very undeveloped and underapproached. How do you use it? In which circumstances? What can you do with it? Is it possible to be applied in this way or that way? To use metacognition there is a simple process: pause-identify-delineate-reframe. Pause to assess your thinking, Identify to determine what your thinking is doing, delineate it, or break it down, into reasonings, then reframe, which is repackaging your new thought-pattern and sending it into memory. Delineating upon your ideas will invoke higher clarity of thought, and without this clarity, you may end up making surface-level decisions that then result in consequences that dampen your overall cognitive state.
Section II: Architectural Perspective
This framework states that all thought-processes are directly manipulatable with a degree of metacognitive awareness due to the understanding and integration of certain key concepts. With this tangibility, it is possible to focus the mind on the underlying thought-processes taking place, using a form of metacognitive pattern recognition to directly adapt and consolidate thought-patterns. These thought-patterns can be rearranged, and used to form created habits, or thought-mechanisms. These thought-mechanisms then serve the subconscious, creating improved mental contexts dependent on relevancy. These contexts give the ability to rationally evaluate your thought patterns and acts as a platform of stability for your metacognitive work. We can then view cognition as an engineering problem, and by taking an Architectural approach, we can dictate the planning and building of your cognitive environment. Being a Mind Architect is being someone who can develop their own thought-patterns, and improve the thought-patterns of others.
This framework also states that a balanced mindset is key to facilitating an interoperable mind. The brain is contingent on biological homeostasis and this is reflected within thought-processes. Thinking must be kept in tune, and disruptive thought-patterns and emotional imbalances disrupt the encompassing balance of the entire mental state, causing conflict and inefficient processing. An Architectural perspective gives the individual an abstract toolset that can help evaluate, reconfigure, and tune-in thought-processes that result in dissonance to their cognitive environment.
A defineable mindset is operational
Everything in our mind is something that we created, one way or another. Metacognition gives us the tools necessary to define our creations. Coupled with an understanding of the interplay between the processes of the mind, we can begin to see how we can directly influence our behaviors through adjusting our thought patterns with an objective mindset. This allows us to delineate any point of reference in the mind as well as denote new points of reference to novel ideation. We can build concepts to then instruct the thought-pattern, to influence the process, achieving intended results.
With definitions, we are given variability. Any definition is up to interpretation, and as such is adjustable through different logical means. A Top-Down process might infer key components from similar circumstances whereas a Bottom-Up process might build a new circumstance to begin with. With these varying approach vectors, we can decide which is the best fit for our situation.
Definitions give thoughts tangibility
If a thought is not denoted as a point of reference, and as such, doesn’t have any tangible definition, it will remain as a Latent Reference that then subtly guides thought-processes. We can uncover these latent references through a technique called Reference Delineation — Finding an unfavorable thought pattern and breaking down the reasons why. Through this process, we are able to executively apply our cognition in a way that creates a point of reference for you to recall so that you can continue using it in the future. Without this tangibility, we find issues with thought-looping, emotional dysregulation, improper usage of logic, and dissociation.
These tangible references are able to be explicitly cross-referenced to similar circumstances, effectively creating an interchangeable thought-pattern. This interchangeability is a form of integrative thinking that allows for the use of cognitive algorithms — constructed thought-mechanisms that are to be used to resolve situationally-linked problems.
Metacognition is a separate thought-process
The brain is composed of many varying systems. The Frontoparietal Control Network (FPCN) is the network most associated with our executive functioning. The Default Mode Network (DMN) has to do with our self-reflective thinking, including metacognition. Considering the localization of these thought-processes, we can define metacognition as a separate form of cognitive awareness entirely. This means that with metacognition, no other facet of our mind has the same capabilities to manage our thoughts directly.
All thought-patterns can be actively modified
Any thought pattern that occurs has a tangible basis. We can utilize this tangible basis by defining the concepts that these patterns comprise of. A habit can be interjected on, injected with a new procedure, then built in the subconscious. After this has consolidated, we can then test the effectiveness of our changes by triggering the thought of this habit, and realigning our expectations of the outcome. This is an active process, which means many iterations will take place before a disruptive thought-pattern can be considered solved. Due to the brain's inherent biological restrictions, neuroplasticity through neurogenesis has to take place and is confined to your innate genetics. This means that some people may take longer to form these connections made in metacognition, but through clever work, may be able to surpass common issues by transcending a traditional thought-mechanism.
Points of reference are holistically applicable
Points of reference don’t necessarily need definitions to be workable. Sometimes emotional tones are the only attachment to a point of reference, and as such don’t need to be delineated, but balanced. These emotionally-charged points of reference can be understood holistically, and as such, only one concept of them has to be created and adjusted, rather than developing a hierarchy based on categorization.
This is not only true with emotional points of reference, but points of references as a whole. Points of reference are connection points for the association of ideas, and in a metacognitive context, thinking-patterns. With this understanding we can look at the chassis of reference associations underneath the surface of words and emotional understandings.
Recursion as a basis for metacognition
Our subconscious mind works on familiarity and has a looping effect. We can observe that our thought-patterns, referenced in awareness through metacognition, tend to repeat in very predictable ways. We can utilize this repetition to refine our thought-patterns and also allow them to do the work for us. Understanding that thought-patterns will return as a loop is the fundamental concept to take away from a recursive mindset. Thought-Sequencing is a technique that utilizes thought-mechanisms as a means for recursive, looping, self-regulation, optimization, and adaptability. This will be further covered in the next sections.
Section III: Metacognitics & Thought Sequencing
Context-Oriented Thinking
The brain is a prediction engine
The brain is constantly making assessments based on the sensory information it receives from all five senses. The brain works by constantly predicting the next set of inputs, which then get confirmed or denied based on the sensory reference. It then proactively builds every instance of consciousness based on the interpretation of that sensory information in tandem with your beliefs. With a process like this, the brain is able to balance multiple potentialities, and react quicker to potentially life threatening circumstances. Through years of evolution, this perception method has proven fruitful enough for the genetic information containing this process to be passed on, generation to generation. This prediction system is further exemplified within cognition to produce simulative potential. We are able to predict outcomes and plan for them. Within any given mental simulation, we are able to foresee potential threats, hindrances, benefits, and probabilities. Our executive functioning is able to map these references to a common goal by planning.
Simulating Thought Through Feedback Loops
Predictions can also be used in metacognition; You can plan your own thought-processes, adjust them in the way you see fit, and determine if they are going to be beneficial in achieving your goals. Throughout all the layers of cognition, you could predict that an emotional impulse will be elicited when a certain thought pattern takes place. With this insight, you may then decide to direct your thinking down a less emotionally charged pathway, effectively changing your metacognitive roadmap, and engineering your cognition. You will be able to predict your own habits, old routines that may need to be adjusted based on your new goals or aspirations. This process can then be built into an algorithm that then decides to find a compromising solution whenever it predicts emotional dissonance. Utilizing this predictive power with internal sensory information (interoception) can build a powerful cueing mechanism that brings information to your attention. If you can simulate the feeling of a certain impulse, and relate it to a conceptual understanding, then you have just utilized a Predictive Feedback Loop. Predictive Feedback Loops are essential for developing a Systems Level Architecture, and are a core component of Recursive Integrative Algorithmic Cognition, which will have its own section later on.
Generative Processing and Meta-Algorithms
The act of simulating is a form of Generative Processing, a process in which exploratory thought can lead to novel ideation or associations. This is like pondering over what to have for a meal, or more intensely, philosophically thinking about how the universe works. On a meta-level, we can philosophically think about how our thinking works, and utilize the fact that we are philosophically thinking about thinking, to then produce meta-architectural changes to our thought-system, altering the way we approach metacognition. Multiple different algorithms can influence our Generative Processing by guiding the direction in which our predictions are made.
We can effectively initiate a Meta-Analysis that then returns algorithmic information that will be assessed and validated by another meta-algorithm to determine the effectiveness of the Generative Processing that takes place when presented with said information. With this process elucidated, we can see a modular architectural system is in place. Even with all of these algorithms, the process is never air-tight as thoughts are confined to the emotional-affective states that are guiding the context. This next section will go into detail about the limitations of a brain that builds every instance of consciousness through prediction based context.
Thought patterns are built around context
Our mind builds our perceptions, piece by piece, stitching together all of our senses and formulating them into a single moment of consciousness. This internal environment is called a state. The state which you are in is composed of many different variables that are all dependent on context. Context is the scope in which your thoughts are allowed to take place. Your emotions have some of the largest impact on how your context is defined, governing the direction you take down certain thought-patterns.
We can observe how the environment is a prime context-setter for a lot of our perceptions. The weather is a good example of how people’s minds get set into the context of a hot/sunny day versus a cold/rainy day. A lot of the time this can even determine people's entire plans for the day, further setting their contexts in advance.
Other common ways context gets set is by having emotional impulses tied to a defined point of reference that then gets applied and dismissed out of short term memory before ever becoming executively tangible. These show up as responses like ‘Whatever’ or ‘I don’t feel like doing that’ or ‘It’s annoying to do’. All of these ideas can be reframed to a context that allows a mindset to be better suited to the situation. Saying ‘Whatever’ doesn’t solve any conflict. ‘I don’t feel like doing that’ doesn’t get things done, and saying ‘It’s annoying to do’ doesn’t change the fact that it still has to get done. A better context to set would be one where you can take it piece by piece and see how it goes, rather than catastrophizing and leaving a negative mindset.
Context defines the scope of thought
This context setting is instrumental in determining the origins of your thought-processes. You may be able to notice your performance is significantly better during some portions of the day or week, whereas you notice a definite decline in your abilities in others. It’s not necessarily that you aren’t as capable or something is wrong with you, it’s about how your cognitive resources are being allocated at any given time. You have to consider what type of influences are being imposed on your context. Sometimes it’s just a matter of routine; at some point of the day you might just need a break. Your mind needs to operate in certain ways for it to maintain a proper balance of the physiological interactions that allow its function. Going with the flow of your mind will allow it to open the most pertinent contexts as regards to keeping this balance as dictated by your daily routine, nested with your procedural habits.
Reference Delineation
Reference Delineation is a troubleshooting process that allows an individual to denote their thoughts, and then define the individual reasonings behind them. This process is crucial for increasing cognitive fluency, as this allows you to interact with a higher degree of verbosity when it comes to understanding your thought processes. In the following subsections, you will be introduced to the key concepts and components of the Reference Delineation process, and will be given examples in how to include this into your cognitive toolkit.
Finding references
The information in our brains is stored in many different ways, including as unconscious information that has no direct tangibility to the conscious awareness. The primary focus of reference delineation is to actively and directly add tangibility to the information that is buried in your thought-patterns, so that you can be aware of it and make decisions accordingly. It is important to note that there are experiences you have that encode information in a different format than is produced by conscious decision making and critical analysis. These learned thought-patterns must be surfaced through executive awareness using reference delineation.
As our minds are composed of many latent references, we need to build a path toward them to allow tangibility for executive decision making. It helps to start by remembering an experience, favorable or unfavorable, whichever is most applicable toward your goals. We can then dissect this experience by performing an analysis. We should analyze critical characteristics like how we ‘felt’ during this experience and what that means. This ‘feeling’ is often where the experiential encoding has stored all of the information. If we denote this as either a good, or a bad feeling, then we have to apply logic to figure out exactly what is contributing to this perception. What traits do good or bad categorizations carry with them in the context of a feeling? It's important to understand that, if following the proper process, all experiences have a finite backbone that can be denoted and delineated as references.
If we dig deeper and find the root cause of our feeling and understanding of an experience, we can then see how different factors of our belief system can play a heavy role in the interpretation of any given instance. You might consider yourself a logical person, but in a certain situation you may discredit things for not sounding ‘logical enough’, which is the opposite of applying a heavy understanding of logic. A truly logical person might have tried to find a common ground, or discover an interpretation that they may have missed, or by some means acquire some value in learning from the experience, rather than just dismissing things entirely. The true question that applies here is “What does sounding logical enough mean? What makes me think something is logical by the way it’s presented to me? Does it make a difference what my interpretation is?”
Denoting a reference
If we can find a reference, then we can put a label on it. References are innately retrieval mechanisms in the mind, but are stored in a conceptual language that requires a high degree of metacognitive awareness and abstract reasoning to deduce. In order to make a reference tangible and explainable we have to apply some language to it. We as humans are very good at word association. Applying words and their meaning to a reference as a traversal means allows cross-association with the conceptual subsystem and language subsystem. The more associations a reference has, the more paths you can take to find it, which undoubtedly vary depending on context. Multiple associations also strengthen memory inferences, as is depicted in Elaborative Rehearsal techniques.
After you have applied a description to your point of reference, it is important to observe to make sure that your memory has properly encoded this reference with the new tied label. This can be done by using active recall a few minutes later to see what’s left behind. Active recall is actively trying to recall a specific piece of information. So, by utilizing active recall, we can call our new reference into working memory, and thus make it tangible.
Contextual definition of a reference
References take many forms. They could be individual objects, things like tools, cans, pencils, tires, trees, telephone poles, etc. They can also encompass more complex concepts like a close friend, or a field of study. A close friend has a name, which is the reference you call to remember who they are. The discipline of Psychology will open up multiple interpretations of what psychology means to you, and if you’ve studied under an academic paradigm, may have categorizations for the discrete components that compound psychology. All of these references can mean different things when built in an entirely different context. If you just recently had an argument with this close friend, when you think of their name, the type of information that's provided to you is going to be guided by the short-term effects of the argument. You may not look at them so favorably anymore, or in a balanced approach, you might weigh the good and the bad and try to determine what started the disagreement in the first place. In the most definitive scenario, you may re-write your interpretation of them as a close friend, and may even now label them as an enemy. This new context is built upon the emotional-affective influence the events have injected into your cognitive state. If you’ve defined the concept of anger as being applicable to your emotional state, then all of the associations that you attach to it are going to flood the information and direct your thinking. This is what’s known as a Limbic Reaction, as the limbic system in our brains is generally associated with emotions.
In different circumstances, the same information gets used differently. References are still innate, but the way you build them into an interpretation, is what will define your experience. In a creative context, you may use information in novel ways. In a depressive context, you may close off all access to your references under a cloudy guise that dismisses all. In a truly balanced state, you should be able to build context around your goals, knowing what influences will affect you, so that you can access the appropriate references and make sound decisions.
Delineation is dependent on overall state
As references are influenced by emotional-affective signals and context, or state, so is the delineation process. This can be easy to understand as the same dynamics that state embeds into reference retrieval, are also applied to the delineation process. The delineation process is a logical thought process that spans across multiple subsystems of the mind. Being in a state of anger, you can make faulty decisions when delineating based upon your conceptual understanding of anger. In other dismissive states, you may not make enough of an effort, apply enough power, to find the appropriate delineation.
Applied Reference Delineation
In order to apply reference delineation we first have to understand what our overall state is. We can check our mood to make sure we are in the mindset for proper delineation to occur. It is important to keep the lines of delineation clean, that means free from emotional perturbance. With a proper mindset cultivated, we can then begin to work on our experiences. After bringing one into your mind, you can then analyze the components that make up this experience. You may need to dig deep and delineate new references so that you can enhance your understanding of the experience. Especially emotionally disturbing concepts should be the primary focus when starting metacognitive work, as these types of concepts will carry with them the most influence on your decision making. With these types of disturbances solved, you will gain valuable knowledge into the inner workings of your mind, as well as using the reference delineation process.
Reference delineation can be used to define and describe latent information in the mind, known as latent references. These latent references are the outcome of experiential encoding, the remembrance of an experience. With a high fluency in the reference delineation process, we can begin to see metacognitive patterns that arise, and attach them to our experiences. By delineating previous experiences, we will begin to look at new experiences with a new gaze. This effectively broadens the amount of information that gets stored as tangible references, making less of a need for future reference delineation. Any experience can happen so fast that you don’t have time to think about it, and as such, will store latent references if the encompassing thought-patterns haven’t been delineated.
In situations where it’s hard to make a decision about a certain thought or feeling, a wise choice would be to ask about others’ experiences with the same factors, so this way you can garner an alternative perspective that you can learn from. Although our minds carry with them powerful capability and tools, it doesn't mean that you have all the information available to come to conclusions at any given time. Sometimes thoughts have to be left open until new information can come in and solve it.
Metacognitive Thinking as a Primary Thought-Process
Although it’s easy to segregate differences in thought processes, it’s important to remember that all thinking is intertwined. Stating that metacognitive thinking can be used as a primary thought-process is saying that higher-order thinking is taking a dominant role in planning, organizing, and facilitating the approach method to all thinking. This looks like having metacognitive interjections embedded in everyday tasks — quick checks that keep thought-processes free from dissonance and heighten efficiency. In the following section, the concepts regarding the implementation and definition of high-level metacognitics will be covered, along with the integration of logical processes.
Architectural approach to thought-processes
By delineating the finite references in our cognitive environment, we are effectively increasing our awareness of underlying thought-processes and are interpreting the mechanisms that procure the consolidation of thought-patterns. With this awareness, we are able to see a modular system within the mind. We can observe how individual thought-patterns are based upon an underlying subconscious structure, and then actively interpret and modify these structures to fit varying circumstances.
By utilizing an architectural perspective of cognition, we can begin to design our thought-processes as a means to better understand ourselves. With this heightened understanding, we can then utilize our experiences as intellectual currency. This currency works as an input into our thought-system, getting received by our designed thought-processes, autonomously adjusting it to grow our modular system in a form of recursive pattern integration. Holistically, the system works to expand awareness and enable adaptability when faced with novel circumstances.
Each component of the mind is like a building block that can be used as individual components of a subsystem, or allow insight into a holistic reconfiguration of all thought-processes. With this degree of modularity, we can weigh potentialities without unfair judgment and come to sound, realistic expectations. These expectations are important to have aligned due to the influence they have on context-building and state balance.
Top-Cycle and hierarchy of algorithms
Our bodies are confined to a rhythm. This is known as the Circadian Rhythm and is the main influence to our survival mechanisms. This rhythm is timing-based, predicated on the day-night cycle and the influence sunlight has on the complex proteins associated with our internal clock. The start and stop blocks of this cycle are waking up and falling asleep. Generally, having definitive times for these start and stop blocks is the best way to keep a balanced rhythm.
This is called the Top-Cycle because it’s the most broad and encompassing loop that enables the timing of habitual thought-patterns. By understanding the influence of the Top-Cycle, we can begin to understand algorithmic recursion on the smaller scales. Each loop or cycle is composed of similar elements, and requires similar inputs that can be configured based on desire. This desire will generally come from life-preservation processes, like hunger, thirst, and excretion of bodily fluids, but secondary concepts like beliefs and goals can be incorporated into these cycles. It is most likely that life-preservation processes will be referenced and guide the interpretation of a goal-oriented algorithmic process. If you are too hungry and low on energy, your algorithm will not complete the same way as if you weren’t. This is important to understand, as life-preservation processes predicate all cognition, and we would more than likely not be here to tell the tale of it if it wasn’t for these processes.
Cognitive algorithms can be viewed as procedures or habitual actions that take place. On a small scale, you can view the process of writing a word as an algorithm, as you’ve more than likely done it before, and it requires no executive application to carry out the task, other than facilitating the will to do it in the first place. On a larger scale, an algorithm can be used to guide the entire flow of a specified time period. A good example would be the work day. Your ‘working’ algorithm might include: Showing up on time, getting settled in, begin tasks, take a break, resume tasks, take a lunch, resume tasks, and leave. This higher-order algorithm will be composed of smaller subalgorithms that dictate the finite actions you take to carry out the higher-order concepts. To complete your tasks, depending on what type of work you do, can be viewed as a procedure. A procedure is essentially an algorithm that guides the flow of action that is taken when a familiar task is consciously recognized. Pre-planning is a form of procedure generation, laying out the framework for a specific process or activity. It is easy to see how there is an algorithmic hierarchy. A mind with a top-cycle composed of habitual procedures that are composed of sub-procedures that can carry out finite tasks. The scale is essentially infinite, or as far as your mind will take you, which generates a form of Fractal Consciousness — an unending hierarchical loop.
Abstract problem-solving
Being able to balance potentialities and come to reasonable conclusions is a necessity when dealing with the sensitive nature of cognitive thought-processes. Having sound reasoning, and critical analysis abilities will be able to resolve conflicts with a higher quality of resolutions produced. In order to work in the realm of metacognition, it is important to understand that everything is an abstract concept. Abstract concepts are not composed of concrete information, and the most concrete you can get when it comes to cognition is defining brain functionality on the biological scale. So far, we have not yet determined the origin of consciousness, or fully understand the mechanics at play that produce thought itself, so it can be concluded that cognition as a whole is an abstract topic. This is especially true with regards to metacognitics, as all metacognitive work is in a conceptual format. The basis we use to define whether or not we are working correctly is to tune into the interoceptive signals that are sent to our mind. We can get strong signals, or weak signals. We can experience brain fog which tells us something. We can get a hit of pleasure that tells us what we are doing is beneficial as a whole in regards to your current goals and beliefs. Asking questions to yourself is a valuable way of obtaining information from the subconscious mind, and as such, should be practiced deliberately with repetition.
In order to work in this space, you need to be able to define references in memory, observe the underlying processes driving your thoughts, and critically reason about them. We can take a thought, delineate it based on associations, but what we do with it after requires careful consideration. With a thought delineated, we have essentially created tangible pieces of a thought-process. We use our pattern recognition and referential memory to reference an entire process built upon these components we have made tangible. We can then look at this process as a whole, in a conceptual format. We can analyze this piece and deduce its efficiency, root cause, potential adjustments, and the applicability of the individual pieces as regards to reorganizing other thought-processes.
Cognitive load and timing to induce better balance
With familiarity of our interoceptive signals, we can begin to interpret our minds' language. The mind presents information as-is, and due to our conceptual nature, can have multiple interpretations dependent on your individual cognitive infrastructure. Cognitive Load is when the brain has allocated resources to sub-processing. The overall state is affected by cognitive load, guiding our thought-processes by allocating resources away from our executive functioning. The subprocessing taking place is the brain forming new connections around experiences. This is neurogenesis at work, through neuroplasticity, storing information as thought-patterns and potentially adjusting existing thought-patterns and processes.
When in a state of high cognitive load, it isn’t recommended to engage in high-order thinking or metacognition, and is best advised to take a break doing something less mindful, to allow your brain to have the adequate resources to consolidate properly. This is important to recognize as this facilitates the entire balance of the state, as cognitive resources are crucial in maintaining balance depending on context.
Interoceptive signals as a basis for fuzzy logic
Interoceptive signals can be many things. The feeling of hunger, or desire to move around, or the need to stretch or even the need to think. Within our mind, we also have unique interoceptive signals. The most common would be the emotional-affective signal, which on the top-level, is an amalgamation of multiple different conscious inputs and bodily signals, resulting in a combined signal. Also, individual emotional-affective signals like pleasure derived from metacognition can be conceived as proper thought-sequencing. Fear can be used to determine a threatening situation or potentially dangerous outcome. In metacognitics, it can be interpreted as potentially delusional thinking. Viewing these signals in the brain as highs or lows, goods and bads, success and failure, creates a referential scale you can then use to assess the efficiency of your thoughts. These signals aren’t always going to be full strength or polarized to one direction or the other, as they may sit somewhere in between. This is where delineation is required to interpret the meaning of a mixed signal. With proper fluency and familiarity of these mixed signals, one can begin to deduce the signals that are slightly higher or slightly lower on the referential chart. This is the basis of fuzzy logic, and closely resembles percentiles.
This fuzzy logic can be used as a way to determine if thought-processes are moving in a favorable direction. By assessing the signals given off during the thought-process, we can then pre-determine outcomes and simulate different potentialities while working off of interoceptive fuzzy logic. It is important to understand the origin of all signals, as misinterpreting a hunger signal as something else could result in improper thought-sequencing and potentially create a disruptive cycle, or worse.
How metacognition solves problems
Metacognition focuses on our internal thought processes in order to determine if our thinking is valuable or on the right track. This solves internal conflicts caused by emotional-affective imbalances and can begin to clarify why some problems persist in an individual. Metacognition is the responsibility of the individual, as someone else will not be able to fully understand your individual cognitive environment and experience it in the same way. By looking inward, we can rearrange our thought-patterns, define our thought-processes, and apply them in a creative way to engage in our required tasks or intended hobbies with greater cohesion, and feel better about it along the way.
Metacognition can potentially rid you of annoying impulses, dismissive thinking, and mental blocks to name a few. In reality, all thinking is modifiable, and as such, any problem you face can be viewed as a mind game. It’s all up to the interpretation of a situation and the way you react to it. By coming to terms with the way we interpret information, and understanding how we react to certain circumstances, we can be adaptable to all situations. This is the ultimate goal of metacognition, increasing cognitive fluency and providing a high degree of adaptability.
Thought-Sequencing & Meta-Analysis
Thought-Sequencing is the process of organizing and refining thought-processes. Thought-processes are composed of thought-patterns and can be ambiguously defined. Meta-Analysis is the process of analyzing an entire thought-system, and making fine adjustments when needed by utilizing thought-sequencing.
Thought-Sequencing and Reference Delineation
Reference delineation is used when we want to make thoughts tangible, free from latent references. Thought-sequencing is used to configure those thoughts into workable procedures that can then be carried out. In these procedures, we can cause reference delineation to occur when specific variables are present. This effectively automates the reference delineation process and allows it to occur as a separate thought-mechanism that can be applied to a given situation. This requires extensive experience in consciously managing the reference delineation process, but also observation of the separate thought-process as well.
Thought-sequencing can be seen as the workspace used to configure your thought-patterns and thought-processes. Reference delineation is a thought-sequencing technique that can be used as a tool to fulfil your goals and gauge your expectations. Thought-sequencing requires you to be open to experience, and have an open-minded belief system.
While thought-sequencing, we can perform a meta-analysis, and then find points of reference that may be able to be tuned or adjusted. This analysis should consist of constructive motive and desire to change and build yourself. You will find routines and habits that you pertain to that you might get frustrated for ever having in the first place. This is expected. Sometimes it may feel as though you’re ‘starting from square one’, but this is the growth process. With growth we develop our top-cycle directly with thought-sequencing.
Foundations to facilitate an architectural mindset
Wanting to take hold of your mind, and directly edit the thought-processes that you pertain to takes a mindset looking for development and change. Viewing consciousness as a cognitive environment with modular components will facilitate a systems-oriented mindset that intuitively grasps thought-systems. Being able to define, redefine, and associate points of reference in your memory brings a high degree of control. With this in mind, as any system should be, this process requires a very delicate balance. This balance is work/life, emotion/logic, systems/components, positive/negative. This is not only necessary to properly incorporate this framework, it is necessary to procure a healthy mindset.
Defining appropriate approach methods
Our expectations and the way we approach certain situations will guide our context, and effectively narrow our focus to the variables that exist there. Within our thought-patterns, we need to establish a direct link to open-mindedness and what that means when searching for an answer. This can be done by first delineating the reference of approach (open-mind) to core components in your expectation. This can look like sub-references that are delineated as “information is information” “No need to dismiss anything, I want to try and figure it out why”. These are good approach vectors when it comes to metacognition, as it literally encompasses all thinking and potential thinking.
On a high-level, defining appropriate approach methods looks like sequencing an algorithm, then defining its approach vector by means of Algorithmic Pattern Integration. This is due to the large repository of meta-level patterns and their associations, thus creating algorithmic cognition sequenceable.
Subconscious integration
The subconscious mind is the place where all of your reference information resides in relation to your tangible top-references. By use of conceptual understanding, we can infer this subconscious information on an intuitive level, and directly manage and manipulate this subconscious language. This is paramount to integrating fuzzy-logic on a holistic scale, as well as conducting the most efficient optimization. This will create an integrative tangibility when it comes to meta-analyses, and as such, will produce meta-level analytical data in a subconscious format. This subconscious format is substantially quicker than the primary language subsystem, potentially creating language bottlenecks. This subconscious format is the basis for all conceptual understandings, and is important to delineate to the language subsystem by means of holistic understandings or interpretations.
Assessing states and building around potentialities
When thought-sequencing, it is important to analyze the overall state and keep it as the primary focus. This will set the algorithms holistically, allowing for full integration of all state components. Assessing your emotional-affective state is a good way to keep oriented towards your body's capabilities of achieving your goals. Predict timing intervals as things may occur, this will help tune your subconscious and assist in your fuzzy-logic.
By thought-sequencing with timing interval predictions, we can facilitate a Predictive Feedback Loop. This loop is a thought-mechanism that supplies predictions built on context variables. This looks like defining your approach towards unknown variables and deciding what to do with them when they inevitably occur. These unknown variables can then be logically concluded tangibly in the executive layer.
Applied Thought-Sequencing
Here are some potential use cases for thought-sequencing.
You always feel anxious around people in general
You respond with anger whenever someone says specific terminology
You want to define the salient components to denote as points of reference in the material you are learning.
You want to define points of reference in your environment so you can find your way around; landmarking.
You feel a certain way at a specific time during one of your routines, and you want to discover and configure a way around it.
Redefining your memory system, categorizing things differently and making broad associations.
Learning a new language, incorporating pronunciation and vocabulary.
Discussing with your therapist the potential imbalances you are facing and elucidating the process you want to use to fix it.
Adjusting to new environments; constructive thought-sequencing
Having trouble with public speaking, sequencing a methodology to alleviate that.
Designing efficient thinking patterns to accomplish tasks better.
Section IV: Recursive Thought-Mechanisms
System-Layering Abstraction
Within a recursive, self-optimizing cognitive architecture, there are interoperating layers that compose conscious awareness. These layers are as follows:
Conceptual Layer: Where all concepts are injected and understood. This is done in an intuitive manner that works as the brain’s inherent ‘language’; CL.
Active (Executive) Layer: Where all references and information are made tangible to the conscious awareness. This layer is the central relay point for all types of information, and is the layer where executive application takes place; Executive, or AL.
Emotional-Affective Layer: Where emotional-affective impulses are interpreted and ‘felt’; EAL.
Interoceptive Layer: Where internal sensory information is interpreted and ‘felt’; IL.
The conceptual layer is an intuitive layer that operates with its own biological language. These are raw thoughts that are interpreted as-is. This layer is responsible for pattern recognition, insight, and passive processing. The subconscious directly facilitates the interactions that take place here. These interactions involve associating information, generating insight, and making sense of disorganized information.
The active layer is most familiar when it comes to the idea of conscious reasoning. This is the place where you balance potentialities that are held in the CL, and come to conclusions. All references to information are injected into the AL for executive tangibility.
The emotional-affective layer is the center of all limbic perceptions. There is a main overarching waveform that is then modified based on input from other layers. These signals can be inhibitory or excitatory in regards to affect, and a combination of these signals can give rise to complex interpretations of an emotional state.
The interoceptive layer is where internal sensory perceptions are present. These impulses can be injected into the CL for interpretation and also made recognizable to the AL. The EAL is heavily influenced by cues from life-sustaining interoceptive signals like oxygen intake or hunger. Pain is also an interoceptive signal that heavily influences all layers, and can cause entire shifts in perception.
Thought-Engines
Thought-Engines are concepts in the mind that encompass an entire top-level management system. This management system is composed of varying processes and thought-mechanisms. Individual thought-mechanisms usually consist of reference delineation, predictive feedback loops, and a balancing algorithm. The approach method generally used is to dismantle disruptive cycles and create higher efficiency. Context switching is a core attribute of a thought-engine because of the inherent understanding of its implications. It is important to remember that a certain amount of concepts have to scaffold a thought-engine before it can be effectively metacognitively operated. This will be explained in a following subsection.
Looping as a basis for processing
With the top-cycle referenced, we can sequence our days. With the looping basis within the subconscious referenced, we can begin working our days on an algorithmic level. This is to mean that you can sequence specific time intervals where specific algorithms will occur, like to talk to your boss for a promotion and planning out the specific state you will be in: confident. With these algorithms clearly referenced, the delineation process works as a thought-sequencing technique in order to adjust individual thought-patterns, effectively engineering algorithmic cognition.
You can utilize these loops with any thought-pattern. Referring to a top-reference, you can actively select which algorithm you wish to sequence and transfer subconscious information from the CL directly to the AL for state-building or context switching. Designation of sub-references should be explicit and tangible.
Disruptive Cycles as inefficient processing
Imbalance, logical inconsistency, and improper emotional inflection are all components of a disruptive cycle. Disruptive cycles can be sequenced deliberately by traversing the top-reference. From there, reference delineation can adjust any undesirable thought-patterns.
In the top-level awareness, you can then observe the EAL when disruptive cycles are initiated. These signals will guide your awareness toward them. When trying to reach a balanced state, disruptive cycles can be viewed as an efficiency problem.
Through reference delineation we can shift our perspectives of a disruptive cycle. Sometimes disruptive cycles can be used in a beneficial way with minor viewpoint adjustments. Finding creative uses for disruptive cycles are a great way at solving them and boosting cognitive fluency.
An accumulation of thought-patterns need to be recognized to establish a workable cognitive architecture
There are a number of foundational understandings that need to be in place in order to facilitate a mindset that is capable of metacognitively addressing cognition. A high-level of internal awareness is crucial to being able to tangibly work with some of these concepts, and as such, can result in periods where metacognitive disruptive cycles may occur due to improper context or having not yet found an internal pattern. Grounding techniques are necessary to implement within our daily top-cycle. This will help prevent over-thinking and help switch context when in an over-reflective state. This is helpful to recognize as a balancing technique, and will result in lower cognitive dissonance.
The concepts that are outlined in this framework provide the bare minimum understandings necessary to facilitate this mindset. It is important to remember to be creative when it comes to the processes in your mind. There is a highly adaptable system within each and every one of us, and there is a potentially unlimited amount of directions you can take when arranging thoughts or ideas. A proper daily balance and routine will allow your mind to work in the most efficient manner, as it will take advantage of prediction to stabilize emotional-affective waveforms.
Generative processing as a functional tool
Generative processing is where our creativity and imagination shine, with the full application of the mind. We can apply logical techniques to our generative process, allowing us to analyse them better and orient our direction.
You can utilize generative processing to construct better thought-mechanisms. By establishing a goal, we can generate and predict the most logical path that can be taken to fulfil it. If our goal is to develop a better thought-mechanism, our focus will turn inward and a meta-analysis will take place. This meta-analysis should check all state-signaling from the EAL and inform if there are any pertinent issues. These issues can then be brought into the AL where you can use CL sequencing techniques along with generative processing to adjust any thought-processes or thought-patterns.
Thought sequencing necessary for an adaptable thought-engine
To build an adaptable thought-engine, we must take a methodical approach. This can be done in a fashioned order.
Define your goal-based context
Check the current state. Set a metacognitive working context that is creative, and inclined to problem-solving. Set a reference to build upon.
Clarify the thought-patterns associated to context
Using reference delineation, traverse hierarchy of processes that are contributing to the new context. Make clear distinctions between processes and attach to the point of reference established earlier.
Define feedback loops
Use algorithmic recursion to establish complementary thought-processes. Denote these as individual sub-references to our established POR.
Make state assessments and solve conflicts
Delineate any imbalances. Adjust context as needed depending on new insight. Maintain coherence to newly developed POR.
Actively recall POR, refine and test
Use memory techniques like spaced repetition to solidify newly developed thought-engine, using the established POR. Apply new thought-engine to everyday circumstances, defining a new approach vector. Test the efficiency and applicability given a situational context.
RIAC as a basis for all cognition
Recursive Integrative Algorithmic Cognition is a meta-architectural model consisting of the integration of recursive thought principles and designed thought-mechanisms. It is composed of balancing algorithms, optimization methods, subconscious delineation, and passive thought-sequencing. Predictive feedback loops are used to adjust thought-processes and are passively engaged. The AL is reserved for top-level metacognitive work and higher-order thought sequencing.
RIAC is a composition of subconscious processing in the CL that resolves internal conflict and allows for definition of larger encompassing thought-patterns. RIAC is a thought-system that utilizes recursive cognition in order to have an automated interface to interact with. Awareness is used to analyze and evaluate recursive thought-processes, as well as extrapolate components to design new thought-mechanisms. RIAC also facilitates the ability to traverse a hierarchy of meta-patterns.
The benefits of RIAC include quicker response times to novel stimuli and circumstances, automated internal conflict resolution, and advanced metacognitive awareness and authority.
Recursion is applied in the subconscious to filter and resolve internal conflict
Understanding the subconscious’ ability to rapidly assess information and apply it in an algorithmic and heuristic fashion, we can utilize it to autonomously handle different aspects of our cognitive architecture. These can be things like emotional-affective balancing, internal conflict resolution, and generative processing chains. RIAC will implement a high-order thought interface that allows for the monitoring and development of these algorithms using heuristic context setting.
Think of RIAC as a control panel; a place where executive decisions are made to the entire thought-system. This requires intensive thought-sequencing and the construction of thought-mechanisms that facilitate recursive operations. These operations can solve or provide information into the AL to give a meta-approach to developing the components of a cognitive system.
With this cognitive system well defined, we can utilize the interchangeability of thought-patterns to influence our thought-processes in creative ways. The main method of approach is having algorithmic cognition applied through recursion in order to reduce cognitive load by having crystallized retention of thought processes, and as such, allow for a streamlined approach to metacognition and analysis.
Timing chains can be regulated and adapted holistically
Timing intervals can be denoted as points of reference in memory. All thought-processes are timing based sequences that call individual components based on the reaction of stimulatory impulses. These impulses are balancing mechanisms that need to be interpreted and broken down in the AL, and with a high degree of fluency within the CL, facilitates the operation of EAL influencing context generation.
By denoting a timing chain as a point of reference, we can begin to see intervals where we can apply reference delineation to assess and modify which part of the sequence needs to have certain thought-patterns. With timing understood, we can build thought-processes that are highly efficient, and effectively consolidate elongated timing intervals into short term intuitive representations in the CL.
Definitions are context building waypoints
Through the process of reference delineation, we can denote points of reference and supply them with supporting information so they ‘stick’ in memory. These definitions are effectively contributing to your state and are guiding your context. With an approach geared toward open-ended and knowledge-gaining goal-setting, we can utilize these definitions in a meta-level approach to context setting and context switching.
If needing a reference to context, you can scale through the hierarchy of your delineated descriptions, which can give an imposing interpretation of where you context marker is at. If looking for a more verbose context, in regards to generative processing techniques or the ability to look at things from all angles, you need to be actively applying context orientations by associating with the contextual top-reference as defined by state.
By having these top-references, we are able to traverse this hierarchy and build waypoints in order to orient our mind towards our intended goals or the situationally dependent circumstances.
Thought-Sequencing as a secondary thought-mechanism
So far, thought-sequencing has been defined as an active process in which you engage with to modify thought-processes. With a high degree of fluency in this process, you are able to encapsulate it, incorporating open-ended thinking, which can then be applied in the CL to autonomously facilitate thought-sequencing techniques when prompted by external or internal cues. This comes with an understanding of how effective processing resonates within your individual cognitive architecture, and without a fully developed sense of thought-sequencing, can result in poorly configured thought-processes that don’t allow for open-ended integration of information.
Maintaining System Integrity: Avoiding Recursive Overload
Through a RIAC system, recursion is the foundation to addressing your thought-processes. Reference delineation elucidates and defines underlying references in memory and applies associations to them in order to assist in recall and understanding. RIAC utilizes the habitual and looping characteristics of cognition in order to automate these processes on a hierarchical level. It’s important to note that with such a recursive architecture, thought-looping is a very real possibility, so fluency in breaking these loops is a paramount consideration to make. Top-level metacognitive work is generally used to assign different algorithmic processes explicitly in regards to identified cognitive inefficiency, and will be used to define disruptive cycles and effectively break them
Implementing RIAC in Practice:
Identify a persistent conflict loop (e.g., emotional avoidance).
Use reference delineation to define its latent references.
Assign recursive meta-patterns (i.e., “if X signal, initiate Y feedback”).
Simulate context timing and establish top-reference goals.
Use AL to monitor and refine with real-world feedback.
Signs of Effective RIAC Integration:
Thought-loops auto-resolve with low emotional friction
Response time to unexpected triggers decreases
Internal context switching becomes seamless
You feel like a participant-observer of your own mind
Fractal Consciousness
Fractal Consciousness is the idea that all thoughts exist on a hierarchy of references and subreferences. This is because a fractal is similar across all scales. These hierarchies are traversable and can potentially extend infinitely due the brain's inherent associative memory structure. As exemplified through the reference delineation process, we can also use this process to help evaluate the platforms of which our metacognitive thought-patterns stand upon. One level of thought-patterns may influence a less-intensive and less verbose task or goal, whereas having higher level goals such as state switching can be perceived as being on a higher meta-level. This meta-level can then be assessed, patterned and then further engineered with related thought patterns that can build overarching mechanisms. These mechanisms will encompass all meta-algorithms interpreted on that point of the hierarchy, and through development of them, can induce a higher level of understanding that is a ‘step above’ the patterns that predicate them.
Denoting a reference hierarchy
At any point in time, cognition revolves around a top-reference — the most active or dominant point of focus in the hierarchy. When multiple top-references are synthesized into a new composite structure, a new top-reference is formed, with the prior references becoming sub-references within it.
This is the process of adjusting your reference hierarchy in fractal terms. This process can be completed theoretically indefinitely, causing new levels of interpretation with highly-dense complexes. These are especially useful for integrating new parameters into meta-algorithms. With broader conceptual scopes, you can define higher density patterns that can also be associated and progress up the hierarchy of references.
