Metabolic Adaptive Dynamics (MAD) v1.2: Nonlinear and Meaning-Modulated Extension

This work presents the consolidated evolutionary version of Metabolic Adaptive Dynamics (MAD), a physiologically operationalized framework for modeling human adaptive regulation under cognitive load. The core model defines adaptive capacity as the measurable rate of autonomic recovery (RR) following cognitive perturbation, operationalized through: Cognitive Load (P), measured via task complexity and NASA-TLX Working Memory Capacity (V), measured via Operation Span Autonomic Recovery (RR), measured through HRV (RMSSD) and GSR The initial proportional formulation (RR ∝ V/P) is extended in this version by introducing: Nonlinear overload dynamics (quadratic and threshold modeling under P > V) Collapse criteria (including stress inertia defined as RR < 0) Motivational moderation (M) as a subjective task-meaning variable Recovery Debt (RD) as a cumulative feedback mechanism MAD v1.2 is presented as a falsifiable research program and preregistered empirical proposal. The document specifies operational definitions, statistical models, and threshold criteria for laboratory validation. No ontological claims are made; the framework remains strictly operational and testable.