OPCT v2.0: Testing Objective Projection Through Biophysical Output Convergence Across Multiple Authors

Objective Projection (OP) proposes that narrative texts can elicit reproducible biophysical responses in readers, independent of subjective emotional labels. The first iteration, OPCT v1.0, defined a measurement protocol using electrocardiography (EKG), galvanic skin response (GSR), and pupillometry during reading, but limitations in sample size, author variance control, and statistical rigor necessitated refinement. Here, I present OPCT v2.0, a preregistered experimental framework designed to systematically evaluate whether the same physical narrative matrix produces convergent biophysical outputs across multiple authors. In OPCT v2.0, three authors independently generate text from an identical Objective Projection Matrix (OPM), adhering to controlled syntax, word count, and prohibition of affective labeling. A sample of 80 participants reads all texts in a randomized within-subject design, with baseline and washout periods to reduce carryover effects. Biophysical outputs — including heart rate variability (HRV), skin conductance, and pupil dilation — are recorded continuously. Mixed-effects models analyze author and participant effects, while inter-subject correlation and effect size metrics quantify convergence. Confounders such as reading speed, text difficulty, and attention are monitored. This protocol explicitly separates biophysical output from subjective emotional labeling, addressing criticisms regarding variability in individual affective responses. The study's preregistered design, inclusion of confidence intervals, and replication plan across independent laboratories aim to maximize falsifiability. By systematically testing the reproducibility of narrative-induced physiological responses, OPCT v2.0 bridges literary theory with experimental neuroscience, potentially establishing a rigorous methodology for objective narrative engineering.