{"paper_id":"4ac3f248-bfbf-43e6-9cfc-896d11badc44","body_text":"Inter-hemispheric delay asymmetry as a necessary condition for agency attribution: a minimal predictive framework | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Inter-hemispheric delay asymmetry as a necessary condition for agency attribution: a minimal predictive framework Nobuchika Yamaki, Tenna Churiki This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9491092/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 4 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The ability to attribute sensory consequences to self-generated actions rather than to external causes is a fundamental requirement for adaptive behaviour. Despite extensive theoretical work, the minimal computational condition under which this attribution becomes well-defined remains unresolved. Here we propose that inter-hemispheric delay asymmetry—the difference Δτ between the internal processing delays of two competing predictive systems—is a necessary and sufficient structural condition for agency attribution to be computationally defined. We introduce a minimal two-system predictive framework in which both hemispheres access motor commands but with different internal delays (τ_L and τ_R = τ_L + Δτ). Agency is quantified by an index A(t) = |ε_R(t)| − |ε_L(t)|, shown to be proportional to the instantaneous log Bayes factor comparing the two predictive models. When Δτ = 0, both systems converge to identical predictions and A(t) ≡ 0 at every time step regardless of noise level, learning rate, or environmental statistics—a structural degeneracy proven analytically and confirmed numerically to machine precision. When Δτ > 0, A(t) rises abruptly to a stable positive plateau (⟨A⟩ ≈ 0.57, p < 10⁻⁷⁴), with no intermediate regime. A systematic two-dimensional sweep over Δτ and the true generative delay τ_world reveals a tripartite phase structure: self-dominant attribution (A > 0) when τ_world = τ_L, environment-dominant attribution (A < 0) when τ_world = τ_R, and undefined attribution (A ≈ 0) otherwise. This structure is invariant across noise levels and learning rates, confirming that delay asymmetry partitions the space of possible attributions into functionally distinct regimes. These results establish inter-hemispheric delay asymmetry as the mechanistic origin of informational asymmetry in agency-capable systems, and provide a principled account of why symmetric processing architectures cannot support stable self–world differentiation. agency inter-hemispheric asymmetry sensorimotor delay predictive models model selection phase structure Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers invited by journal 28 Apr, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 25 Apr, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 25 Apr, 2026 First submitted to journal 22 Apr, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {\"props\":{\"pageProps\":{\"initialData\":{\"identity\":\"rs-9491092\",\"acceptedTermsAndConditions\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":false,\"archivedVersions\":[],\"articleType\":\"Research Article\",\"associatedPublications\":[],\"authors\":[{\"id\":631105569,\"identity\":\"f0a64bf8-20ad-4f11-8d88-17835808a0c2\",\"order_by\":0,\"name\":\"Nobuchika Yamaki\",\"email\":\"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABEElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYFACHgYGxgYJAygvgYcfxiJei2QbkDpAWAsDXAuDwTECWszZe49J/NxhYczfwGP46UZNmozx/d6Dtz9U2OUxsDcffIBFi2XPuTTJ3jMSZhIHeIylc47l8Jgd40u2OHAmuZiB51iyARYtBjdyzKQZ2yRsGA7wGEjnsFUAtfCYSRxsO5DYIJFjJoFPizzQlt85/yp4jNtAWv4R1mJmcIDHTDq3LYfHgA2kpQGPljPnki172ySMDQ+zlVnn9qXxSBzLMbY4cyw5sQ2XX473Hrzxs63OcN7x5s23c74l2/M3nzG8UVFjl9iPI8QQgJkDYSTYPWx4lYMBO8JIbF4YBaNgFIyCkQsAmIthmvIjDLMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"TNQ Tech, Co.\",\"correspondingAuthor\":true,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Nobuchika\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Yamaki\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":631105573,\"identity\":\"21008341-34ca-4b76-b8d7-74a6c3177f77\",\"order_by\":1,\"name\":\"Tenna Churiki\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"TNQ Tech, Co.\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Tenna\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Churiki\",\"suffix\":\"\"}],\"badges\":[],\"createdAt\":\"2026-04-22 05:23:32\",\"currentVersionCode\":1,\"declarations\":\"\",\"doi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9491092/v1\",\"doiUrl\":\"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9491092/v1\",\"draftVersion\":[],\"editorialEvents\":[],\"editorialNote\":\"\",\"failedWorkflow\":false,\"files\":[{\"id\":108598140,\"identity\":\"a5247d4e-ab90-4d0b-8909-a2a97f26a963\",\"added_by\":\"auto\",\"created_at\":\"2026-05-06 11:06:40\",\"extension\":\"pdf\",\"order_by\":1,\"title\":\"\",\"display\":\"\",\"copyAsset\":false,\"role\":\"manuscript-pdf\",\"size\":369382,\"visible\":true,\"origin\":\"\",\"legend\":\"\",\"description\":\"\",\"filename\":\"agencyattribution.pdf\",\"url\":\"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9491092/v1_covered_521ea87c-b18a-470c-9533-c1b43cfc25fa.pdf\"}],\"financialInterests\":\"No competing interests reported.\",\"formattedTitle\":\"Inter-hemispheric delay asymmetry as a necessary condition for agency attribution: a minimal predictive framework\",\"fulltext\":[],\"fulltextSource\":\"\",\"fullText\":\"\",\"funders\":[],\"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow\":false,\"hasManuscriptDocX\":false,\"hasOptedInToPreprint\":true,\"hasPassedJournalQc\":\"\",\"hasAnyPriority\":false,\"hideJournal\":false,\"highlight\":\"\",\"institution\":\"\",\"isAcceptedByJournal\":false,\"isAuthorSuppliedPdf\":true,\"isDeskRejected\":\"\",\"isHiddenFromSearch\":false,\"isInQc\":false,\"isInWorkflow\":false,\"isPdf\":true,\"isPdfUpToDate\":true,\"isWithdrawnOrRetracted\":false,\"journal\":{\"display\":true,\"email\":\"info@researchsquare.com\",\"identity\":\"cognitive-neurodynamics\",\"isNatureJournal\":false,\"hasQc\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":false,\"externalIdentity\":\"cody\",\"sideBox\":\"Learn more about [Cognitive Neurodynamics](http://link.springer.com/journal/11571)\",\"snPcode\":\"11571\",\"submissionUrl\":\"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/11571/3\",\"title\":\"Cognitive Neurodynamics\",\"twitterHandle\":\"\",\"acdcEnabled\":true,\"dfaEnabled\":true,\"editorialSystem\":\"stoa\",\"reportingPortfolio\":\"Springer Hybrid\",\"inReviewEnabled\":true,\"inReviewRevisionsEnabled\":false},\"keywords\":\"agency, inter-hemispheric asymmetry, sensorimotor delay, predictive models, model selection, phase structure\",\"lastPublishedDoi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9491092/v1\",\"lastPublishedDoiUrl\":\"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9491092/v1\",\"license\":{\"name\":\"CC BY 4.0\",\"url\":\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/\"},\"manuscriptAbstract\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eThe ability to attribute sensory consequences to self-generated actions rather than to external causes is a fundamental requirement for adaptive behaviour. Despite extensive theoretical work, the minimal computational condition under which this attribution becomes well-defined remains unresolved. Here we propose that inter-hemispheric delay asymmetry\\u0026mdash;the difference Δτ between the internal processing delays of two competing predictive systems\\u0026mdash;is a necessary and sufficient structural condition for agency attribution to be computationally defined.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eWe introduce a minimal two-system predictive framework in which both hemispheres access motor commands but with different internal delays (τ_L and τ_R\\u0026thinsp;=\\u0026thinsp;τ_L\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;Δτ). Agency is quantified by an index A(t) = |ε_R(t)| \\u0026minus; |ε_L(t)|, shown to be proportional to the instantaneous log Bayes factor comparing the two predictive models. When Δτ\\u0026thinsp;=\\u0026thinsp;0, both systems converge to identical predictions and A(t)\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026equiv;\\u0026thinsp;0 at every time step regardless of noise level, learning rate, or environmental statistics\\u0026mdash;a structural degeneracy proven analytically and confirmed numerically to machine precision. When Δτ\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026gt;\\u0026thinsp;0, A(t) rises abruptly to a stable positive plateau (⟨A⟩ \\u0026asymp; 0.57, p\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026lt;\\u0026thinsp;10⁻⁷⁴), with no intermediate regime.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eA systematic two-dimensional sweep over Δτ and the true generative delay τ_world reveals a tripartite phase structure: self-dominant attribution (A\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026gt;\\u0026thinsp;0) when τ_world\\u0026thinsp;=\\u0026thinsp;τ_L, environment-dominant attribution (A\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026lt;\\u0026thinsp;0) when τ_world\\u0026thinsp;=\\u0026thinsp;τ_R, and undefined attribution (A\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026asymp;\\u0026thinsp;0) otherwise. This structure is invariant across noise levels and learning rates, confirming that delay asymmetry partitions the space of possible attributions into functionally distinct regimes. These results establish inter-hemispheric delay asymmetry as the mechanistic origin of informational asymmetry in agency-capable systems, and provide a principled account of why symmetric processing architectures cannot support stable self\\u0026ndash;world differentiation.\\u003c/p\\u003e\",\"manuscriptTitle\":\"Inter-hemispheric delay asymmetry as a necessary condition for agency attribution: a minimal predictive framework\",\"msid\":\"\",\"msnumber\":\"\",\"nonDraftVersions\":[{\"code\":1,\"date\":\"2026-05-06 11:06:34\",\"doi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9491092/v1\",\"editorialEvents\":[{\"type\":\"communityComments\",\"content\":0},{\"type\":\"reviewersInvited\",\"content\":\"\",\"date\":\"2026-04-28T07:57:18+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"editorAssigned\",\"content\":\"\",\"date\":\"2026-04-25T08:05:37+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"checksComplete\",\"content\":\"\",\"date\":\"2026-04-25T08:04:53+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"submitted\",\"content\":\"Cognitive Neurodynamics\",\"date\":\"2026-04-22T05:13:13+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"}],\"status\":\"published\",\"journal\":{\"display\":true,\"email\":\"info@researchsquare.com\",\"identity\":\"cognitive-neurodynamics\",\"isNatureJournal\":false,\"hasQc\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":false,\"externalIdentity\":\"cody\",\"sideBox\":\"Learn more about [Cognitive Neurodynamics](http://link.springer.com/journal/11571)\",\"snPcode\":\"11571\",\"submissionUrl\":\"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/11571/3\",\"title\":\"Cognitive Neurodynamics\",\"twitterHandle\":\"\",\"acdcEnabled\":true,\"dfaEnabled\":true,\"editorialSystem\":\"stoa\",\"reportingPortfolio\":\"Springer Hybrid\",\"inReviewEnabled\":true,\"inReviewRevisionsEnabled\":false}}],\"origin\":\"\",\"ownerIdentity\":\"b2560d24-bea3-469b-b1dd-46a98185154d\",\"owner\":[],\"postedDate\":\"May 6th, 2026\",\"published\":true,\"recentEditorialEvents\":[],\"rejectedJournal\":[],\"revision\":\"\",\"amendment\":\"\",\"status\":\"under-review\",\"subjectAreas\":[],\"tags\":[],\"updatedAt\":\"2026-05-06T11:06:34+00:00\",\"versionOfRecord\":[],\"versionCreatedAt\":\"2026-05-06 11:06:34\",\"video\":\"\",\"vorDoi\":\"\",\"vorDoiUrl\":\"\",\"workflowStages\":[]},\"version\":\"v1\",\"identity\":\"rs-9491092\",\"journalConfig\":\"researchsquare\"},\"__N_SSP\":true},\"page\":\"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]\",\"query\":{\"redirect\":\"/article/rs-9491092\",\"identity\":\"rs-9491092\",\"version\":[\"v1\"]},\"buildId\":\"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd\",\"isFallback\":false,\"isExperimentalCompile\":false,\"dynamicIds\":[84888],\"gssp\":true,\"scriptLoader\":[]}","source_license":"CC-BY-4.0","license_restricted":false}