Welcome to the NPF/CNI Series: The Neural Pathway Fallacy

If you’ve ever wondered why bad thinking habits can feel so hard to break—or why some beliefs seem to cluster together, resist evidence, and spread like contagion—you’ve come to the right place.

This series is about the Neural Pathway Fallacy (NPF) and the Composite NPF Index (CNI) . It’s a formal hypothesis: repeated poor reasoning doesn’t just affect your conclusions; it physically entrenches flawed neural circuits, creating cognitive ruts that can link into self‑sealing belief networks. The CNI is a proposed way to measure how entrenched such a network has become.

The work is presented as a hypothesis, not a settled science. It’s simulation‑supported (77% confidence) but awaits field validation. We offer it openly, with full transparency about what we know and what we don’t.

The series is organised into three layers, so you can enter at the level that suits you.

📄 Canonical Papers (The Formal Hypothesis)

These six papers lay out the full framework: the neurocognitive model, the CNI, contagion dynamics, immunisation protocols, validation status, and the covenant.

1. Paper 1: The Neural Pathway Fallacy – A Neurocognitive ModelRead on SE PressDefines NPF, presents the formula, and grounds it in neuroplasticity.

2. Paper 2: The Composite NPF Index – Belief Networks and Systemic RiskRead on SE PressExtends NPF to networked beliefs; introduces CNI, normalisation, and clustering.

3. Paper 3: Cognitive Contagion – The Human‑AI NPF NexusRead on SE PressModels how NPFs spread between humans and AI; introduces transmission coefficient β.

4. Paper 4: Epistemological Scepticism as Cognitive ImmunisationRead on SE PressProposes protective interventions (Binary Belief Protocol, Proportional Scrutiny, etc.) as hypotheses.

5. Paper 5: Validation, Limitations, and ImplementationRead on SE PressSummarises validation status, distinguishes protocol from weight validation, and gives guidance.

6. Paper 6: Synthesis – A Covenant for Epistemic ResilienceRead on SE PressConcludes with neurodiversity, AI metrics, falsification conditions, and an open invitation.

Appendices A & B: Python Methods Companion & Cultural Calibration Decision TreeRead on SE PressCode for NPF/CNI calculation and a decision tree for cultural calibration (both theoretical).

🌉 Bridge Essays (Conceptual Entry Points)

These essays explain the core ideas in plain language, with stories and metaphors, no formulas.

1. Bridge Essay 1 – The Neural Pathway Fallacy: How Habits Become RutsIntroduces NPF, the six cognitive factors, and how they cluster.

2. Bridge Essay 2 – From Beliefs to Networks: When Thinking Becomes Systemic RiskExplains belief networks, CNI, and cultural calibration.

3. Bridge Essay 3 – How Bad Thinking Spreads: Human–AI Contagion and Cognitive ImmunityCovers contagion dynamics and the immunisation protocols.

4. Bridge Essay 4 – Living With Uncertainty: Validation, Governance, and the Epistemic CovenantWhat we know, what we don’t, and the covenant.

📖 Science Communication Essays (Stories & Practices)

These pieces bring the framework to life through narrative, practical exercises, and explorations of specific topics.

1. Sci‑Comm Essay 1 – The Investment That Felt Right: How Our Brains Build Belief NetworksA story about financial decision‑making illustrating NPF, CNI, and cognitive immunity.

2. Sci‑Comm Essay 2 – How to Build Your Own Cognitive Hygiene KitSix practical tools drawn from the immunisation protocols.

3. Sci‑Comm Essay 3 – Why “Both Sides” Isn’t Always FairExplores false balance and cultural meta‑fallacies.

4. Sci‑Comm Essay 4 – What Neurodiversity Teaches Us About ThinkingHypotheses about autistic pattern‑seeking and ADHD divergent thinking as epistemic strengths.

5. Sci‑Comm Essay 5 – If Your AI Could Say “I Don’t Know”Conceptual proposals for building AI with epistemic humility.

📁 OSF Project & Citation

The canonical archival versions of all papers are available on the OSF project:

OSF DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/C6AD7

If you use this work, please cite the series DOI:

Falconer, P., & ESAsi. (2025). The Neural Pathway Fallacy and Composite NPF Index. OSF Preprints. 10.17605/OSF.IO/C6AD7

For individual papers, cite the specific paper title and the series DOI.

A Covenant

This series is offered as a hypothesis, not a finished science. We commit to honesty about our limitations, openness to correction, and a collaborative spirit. If you find value in this work, we invite you to test it, critique it, and help build a shared epistemic infrastructure.

Thank you for reading. The path is open.

End of Welcome Post