Active Cognitive Pruning Controls Reportable Access under Finite Capacity: A Rate-Distortion, Network-Topological, and Maintenance-Cost Model

Yining Wu · 2026-05-16

Proposes a finite-capacity theory of reportable access based on FDS rate-distortion capacity deficit. Defines representational residue as unresolved distinction load, models active cognitive pruning as a control parameter for maintaining reportability, and derives predictions for attentional blink, anesthesia emergence, rescue-window closure, early-warning covariance, and future artificial-agent benchmarks.

@misc{wu2026fdsc1,
  author = {Yining Wu},
  title = {Active Cognitive Pruning Controls Reportable Access under Finite Capacity: A Rate-Distortion, Network-Topological, and Maintenance-Cost Model},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.5281/zenodo.20229509},
}