Root Frequency Theory: An Integrative Framework for the Continuity of Lived Experience
Open MIND January 1, 2026 Bianca Avanzo
Conscious experience remains coherent across time, but existing explanations focus separately on neural mechanisms or phenomenological description. The Root Frequency Theory (RFT) proposes that experiential continuity arises from coherence across five interdependent layers (C0–C4), connected through multiscale alignment and rhythmic coordination. The Default Mode Network (DMN) is analyzed as a central hub contributing to spatiotemporal continuity. The RFT Coherence Metric (M-RFT) is introduced as a heuristic index inspired by variational free energy minimization and self-organization, characterizing alignment across biological, neural, and symbolic domains whose convergence manifests at the experiential level. The theory-building strategy uses neurophenomenology, combining first-person reflection with transdisciplinary modeling. RFT offers a testable framework for examining how neural integration, self-understanding, and physiological regulation covary to sustain a coherent sense of self.