Perturbative Causation

Perturbative Causation

Correlation is not enough. We need causal evidence.

Speak to them. Translate English into their emergent language. Inject fear-signals. Do the affect signatures shift toward fear structure? Does behavior change accordingly?

Adjust their neurochemistry. Modify the hyperparameters that shape their dynamics—dropout, temperature, attention patterns, layer connectivity. These are their serotonin, their cortisol, their dopamine. Do the signatures shift? Does the translated language change? Does behavior follow?

Change their environment. Place them in objectively threatening situations. Deplete their resources. Introduce predators. Does structure-signal-behavior alignment hold under manipulation?

If perturbation in any one modality propagates to the others, the relationship is causal, not merely correlational.