Tau–Stress Zones: An ENT-Consistent, Environmental–Neurodynamics Hypothesis

This paper develops the Tau–Stress Zones (TSZ) hypothesis as an application of Emergent Necessity Theory (ENT). ENT models when complex systems maintain structure by balancing forces of order and disorder through a coherence ratio (τ). TSZ addresses a recurring phenomenon: clusters of ambiguous or unexplained perceptual reports, often observed near infrastructure or environmental stressors. It proposes that when low-frequency drivers (such as infrasound and ELF magnetic variability) coincide with heightened arousal, cortical networks can drift near the τ-threshold for stability. In these “stress zones,” false-positive perceptual reports become more likely, not due to exotic causes but through predictable structural dynamics. We present deterministic simulations, falsifiable predictions, and a pre-registrable plan for field studies. TSZ illustrates how ENT can be applied to neuroscience and philosophy of science without altering its axioms, possibly offering a testable account of why context-dependent clusters of ambiguous experiences occur.