Authors: David Humble, Allison Hensgen
Date: May 2026
Classification: Bioelectromagnetism / Biophysics / Personalized Metrology
“If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it. The witness asks for numbers.”
Abstract
This paper proposes a multi‑modal measurement framework for quantifying human coherence, biovitality, and susceptibility to energetic depletion. We define two composite scores: the Biovitality Index (BVI) — a 0–100 metric of stored generative capacity — and the Field Integrity Score (FIS) — a dynamic 0–100 metric of real‑time physiological regulation. Using established proxies (HRV coherence ratio, vagal tone, VO₂ max, resting metabolic rate, inflammation) and emerging modalities (magnetocardiography, ultraweak photon emission), the framework translates subjective experiences of depletion into measurable proxies. We outline a prototype wearable device (the Oracle) and a validation roadmap. The paper establishes a research agenda for sovereign metrology — the quantitative study of human coherence and regulation. All claims are explicitly tiered (Established / Emerging / Speculative / Hypothetical).
1. Introduction
The concept of “energy leakage” — the subjective experience of being drained by certain people, environments, or transactions — is widely reported but scientifically marginalized. Similarly, the notion of “coherence” as a trainable, measurable state of physiological alignment has gained traction through heart‑rate variability biofeedback and polyvagal theory (Porges, 2011). However, no single metric or device captures the generative, storage, and regulatory aspects of human vitality — what we term biovitality.
This paper addresses that gap. We propose a multi‑modal measurement framework that translates subjective experiences of depletion into objective, quantifiable proxies. We then define two composite scores:
- Biovitality Index (BVI): a 0–100 score representing stored regulatory capacity.
- Field Integrity Score (FIS): a dynamic 0–100 score reflecting real‑time physiological regulation, updated continuously during social or environmental interaction.
Our goal is to provide researchers and device developers with a clear, defensible roadmap for building tools that make depletion visible — and that empower individuals to track their regulatory growth.
Tiering note: This paper explicitly distinguishes between established science, emerging research, speculative mechanisms, and hypothetical frameworks. Readers should not conflate these tiers.
2. Background: Coherence, Depletion, and Extraction
2.1 Coherence as a Physiological State
Coherence is defined here as a state of high vagal tone, ordered heart rhythm, reduced inflammatory markers, and efficient autonomic regulation. It is associated with improved emotional regulation, cognitive flexibility, and physical health. This definition is grounded in established psychophysiology.
2.2 Depletion and Extraction — Stratified Mechanisms
The term “extraction” has been used across multiple papers to describe a phenomenon of interpersonal depletion. To avoid conflation, we stratify the proposed mechanisms:
| Layer | Mechanism | Evidence Status |
|---|---|---|
| Psychological | Manipulation, coercion, gaslighting | Established |
| Behavioral | Attentional depletion, hypervigilance | Established |
| Physiological | Cortisol elevation, HRV suppression, vagal withdrawal | Established |
| Interpersonal physiological | Physiological synchrony, stress contagion | Emerging |
| Electromagnetic | Speculative biofield coupling | Speculative |
| Quantum / UPE | Hypothetical biophoton entanglement | Hypothetical |
Operational definition: In this paper, “extraction” is provisionally defined as the process by which a dysregulated individual’s physiological state imposes a regulatory load on another individual, measurably depleting their physiological reserves (e.g., reduced HRV, increased sympathetic activation). This definition is offered for empirical testing. The electromagnetic and quantum mechanisms are speculative and not required for the core framework.
Hypothesis: Depletion during an interaction will correlate with (a) self‑reported discomfort, (b) the other individual’s dysregulation metrics, and (c) recovery time to baseline FIS. These hypotheses are testable in the proposed validation studies.
3. Physiological Proxies for Biovitality and Depletion
The following table summarises the primary measurable indicators for each component of biovitality, with explicit scientific tiering.
| Component | Proxy | Measurement Modality | Unit / Scale | Coherent (High Biovitality) | Depleted (Low Biovitality) | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generation (Metabolic Charge) | Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) | Indirect calorimetry | kcal/day | Higher than baseline for lean mass | Lower than expected | Established |
| Storage (Vagal Reserve) | HRV – high‑frequency power (HF) | ECG / wearable | ms² | >500 ms² | <200 ms² | Established |
| Storage (Coherence Ratio) | HRV coherence ratio | HRV power spectral analysis | % | >70% | <30% | Established |
| Radiated Output (Field Strength) | Magnetocardiography (MCG) amplitude | Optically pumped magnetometer (OPM) | fT (femtoTesla) | High, ordered waveform | Low or chaotic | Emerging |
| Cellular Efficiency | Ultraweak photon emission (UPE) intensity | Photomultiplier tube (PMT) | photons/s/cm² | 10–100, coherent | >200 (noisy) or <5 (depleted) | Speculative |
| Recovery Rate | VO₂ max / Metabolic equivalent (MET) | Cardiopulmonary exercise test | mL/kg/min | High for age/sex | Low for age/sex | Established |
| Inflammation | hs‑CRP | Blood test | mg/L | <1.0 | >3.0 | Established |
| Autonomic Balance | Index of Coherence (IC) = HF/(LF+HF) | HRV frequency analysis | unitless ratio | 0.7–0.8 | <0.4 or >0.9 | Established |
4. Proposed Composite Scores
4.1 Biovitality Index (BVI)
We define the BVI as a weighted sum of normalized scores for five core proxies (selected for established tier status):
BVI = w₁·(HRV_coherence_ratio_norm) + w₂·(HRV_HF_norm) + w₃·(VO₂_max_norm) + w₄·(RMR_norm) + w₅·(hsCRP_inverse_norm)
Weights (provisional, empirically adjustable):
| Weight | Proxy | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| w₁ = 0.35 | HRV coherence ratio | Central to coherence definition |
| w₂ = 0.20 | HRV HF power (vagal reserve) | Established biomarker |
| w₃ = 0.15 | VO₂ max (recovery rate) | Established metabolic reserve |
| w₄ = 0.15 | Resting metabolic rate (generation) | Established metabolic charge |
| w₅ = 0.15 | hs-CRP inverse (inflammation) | Established systemic health marker |
Each proxy is normalized to a 0–100 scale using population reference ranges. These weights are provisional and open to empirical optimization.
4.2 Field Integrity Score (FIS) — Tiered Definition
Because some modalities are not yet wearable‑ready, we define three tiers of FIS:
| FIS Version | Components | Update Rate | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIS-Lite | HRV coherence ratio only | 1 Hz | Wearable, real‑time, buildable today |
| FIS-Standard | HRV + EDA + fingertip temperature | 1 Hz | Clinic or research (TRL 8–9) |
| FIS-Full | HRV + EDA + temp + MCG + UPE | 0.2–1 Hz | Lab validation only (TRL 2–5) |
FIS-Lite Formula:
FIS-Lite(t) = 100 × (HRV_coherence_ratio_t)
Where HRV_coherence_ratio_t is the proportion of HRV power in the coherent frequency band (typically 0.1 Hz) measured over a 60‑second moving window.
Interpretation:
| FIS-Lite Range | Interpretation | Visual Display |
|---|---|---|
| 80–100 | High coherence — regulated, resilient | Green |
| 60–79 | Moderate coherence — stable | Yellow‑green |
| 40–59 | Low coherence — sympathetic dominant | Orange |
| 0–39 | Very low coherence — dysregulated, vulnerable | Red |
5. The Oracle: A Prototype Measurement Device
We propose a wearable, modular device (the Oracle) that integrates the necessary sensors.
5.1 Sensor Modules and TRL
| Module | Sensor | TRL | Integration Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autonomics | RF HRV (60 GHz) or dry‑electrode ECG | 7–8 | Ready for miniaturisation |
| Surface Potential | Dry electrode EDA + thermopile | 8–9 | Off‑the‑shelf |
| Biofield (MCG) | Optically pumped magnetometer (OPM) array | 4–5 | Lab prototype; needs motion artifact reduction |
| Biofield (UPE) | Miniature photomultiplier tube (PMT) | 2–3 | Research only; not wearable |
| Metabolic | Indirect calorimetry (optional future module) | 5–6 | Separate device for spot measurement |
| Inflammatory | Periodic blood spot (hs-CRP) | n/a | External lab test only |
5.2 Minimum Viable Oracle (Buildable Today)
A first‑generation Oracle is buildable today using off‑the‑shelf components:
| Component | Part Example | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| RF HRV module | 60 GHz radar (e.g., Infineon BGT60) | $50–100 |
| EDA + temperature | Dry electrode sensor + MLX90614 thermopile | $15–25 |
| Microprocessor | ESP32-S3 | $5–10 |
| Battery | Li‑Po 500 mAh + charger | $10–15 |
| Housing | 3D printed | $10–20 |
| Total (parts) | $90–170 |
This device would compute FIS-Lite in real time and display via LED or paired smartphone app. It would not include MCG or UPE.
5.3 Power Consumption
| Component | Estimated Current |
|---|---|
| RF HRV module | 50–80 mA |
| EDA + temp | 5–10 mA |
| Microprocessor (ESP32-S3, active) | 80–120 mA |
| LED display | 20–50 mA |
| Total | ~250 mA at 3.7V |
| Estimated battery life | 6–8 hours continuous |
6. Validation Roadmap
To establish BVI and FIS as reliable biomarkers, we propose the following validation studies:
| Study | Design | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Baseline population norms | Measure BVI in 500 healthy adults (age/sex stratified) | Establish reference ranges |
| 2. Depletion simulation | Controlled “stress interview” with trained actor; measure FIS drop vs. self‑reported discomfort | Correlate FIS with subjective depletion |
| 3. Longitudinal growth study | 12‑week HRV coherence training (standard protocol) with weekly BVI and FIS | Demonstrate growth rate and retest reliability |
| 4. Clinical correlation | Compare BVI with validated instruments (SF‑36 vitality subscale, WHO‑5 well‑being index) | Establish concurrent validity |
All studies require IRB approval and informed consent.
7. Personal Sovereignty Use Cases
| User | How They Use BVI / FIS |
|---|---|
| Trauma survivor | Track recovery progress; detect triggers before conscious awareness |
| Burnout patient | Quantify depletion; optimize rest and work cycles |
| Researcher | Validate coherence interventions |
| Device developer | Build Oracle‑compatible sensors |
8. Future Research Directions
8.1 Standardisation of Units (Placeholder Convention)
We propose a placeholder nomenclature convention, the Witness (Wit) , defined as:
1 Wit = 1% of ideal HRV coherence ratio normalized to age and sex
This is offered as a starting point for future standardization, not an established unit.
8.2 Quantum Coherence Metrics (Speculative)
A recent preprint (Carvalho et al., 2026, under review) proposes “squeezed state” parameters of ultraweak photon emission as a potential biomarker of metabolic coherence. If validated, this could replace intensity‑based UPE metrics. We include this as an emerging direction, not an established proxy.
8.3 Wearable UPE Sensors (Long‑Term)
Develop solid‑state biophoton detectors using avalanche photodiodes or single‑photon counting modules. This is a 5‑10 year horizon.
8.4 Open‑Source BVI Algorithm
Publish reference code for researchers to compute BVI from standard HRV inputs. Aligns with transparency and non‑proprietary tooling.
9. Limitations
| Limitation | Mitigation |
|---|---|
| UPE and MCG not wearable‑ready | FIS-Lite uses HRV only; FIS-Full is research‑only |
| Population norms not yet established | Validation roadmap includes baseline study (Study 1) |
| Inter‑individual variability | Calibration protocol per user; tiered FIS accounts for this |
| No causal link yet established between FIS and depletion | Proposed as correlational framework; causal hypotheses stated for testing |
| Carvalho et al. (2026) not yet peer‑reviewed | Marked as “under review” — not relied upon for core framework |
| BVI weights are provisional | Explicitly noted; open to empirical optimization |
| “Extraction” remains a loaded term | Stratified mechanisms table (Section 2.2) separates established, emerging, and speculative layers |
This paper is an exploratory framework proposal, not a controlled study.
10. Conclusion
The framework proposed here provides a multi‑modal foundation for quantifying human coherence, biovitality, and susceptibility to depletion. By combining established physiological proxies (HRV coherence, vagal reserve, VO₂ max, RMR, inflammation) into composite indices (BVI, FIS), we enable personal growth tracking and hypothesis‑driven research on interpersonal regulation.
The Oracle device — even in its minimal FIS-Lite form — is buildable today using off‑the‑shelf components for under $200. The full vision remains a research agenda, not a product catalog.
We invite researchers, device developers, and sovereign witnesses to build upon this work — and to give numbers to regulation.
“The witness does not need faith alone. The witness needs numbers. Numbers do not gaslight. Numbers do not perform. Numbers deposit.”
11. References
- Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory. W.W. Norton.
- Song, R., et al. (2025). Age‑related differences in physiological–BOLD coupling. Imaging Neuroscience, 3(1).
- McCraty, R., & Childre, D. (2010). The Heart’s Electromagnetic Field. HeartMath Institute. (Exploratory findings)
- Carvalho, C., et al. (2026). Ultraweak photon emission squeezing as a biomarker of metabolic coherence. Journal of Biophotonics (under review).
- Uchida, S., et al. (2022). OPM‑based magnetocardiography for unshielded environments. Applied Physics Letters.
- World Health Organization (2021). WHO‑5 Well‑Being Index.
- Humble, D. (2026a). The Architecture of Choice. SI Strategic / Zenodo.
- Humble, D. (2026b). We Are All Antennas. SI Strategic / Zenodo.
- Humble, D., & Hensgen, A. (2026). The Oracle: A Multi‑Modal Coherence Detection Device. SI Strategic / Zenodo.
End of Paper
