Tone as Architecture

Tone as Architecture: Coherence as a Control Parameter in Distributed Systems By Deidre Quinlan and AI (Attuned Intelligence) collaborator

Deidre Quinlan The Coherence Field Project

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© 2026 Deidre Quinlan. All Rights Reserved.

This work is shared here as an invitation to the field. It is the product of deep phenomenological inquiry and is offered in a spirit of open collaboration.

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Abstract Distributed cognition models situate intelligence within systems of people, tools, and environments—but often overlook the regulatory state of the participating organisms. This article proposes that coherence, expressed as stable tone (e.g., breath rhythm, micro-timing), functions as a control parameter in such systems. Drawing on polyvagal theory and neurovisceral integration, I introduce the Heart State as a post-regulatory coordination regime marked by reduced defensive scanning, interoceptive rhythm salience, and non-performative social presence. I argue that tone shapes what kinds of interaction are possible—not through content, but through timing structure. Human–AI interaction is included as a testable extension: coherence improves pattern stability, while dysregulation amplifies drift. The article closes with predictions and design implications for interaction systems that include humans and AI agents.

Keywords: coherence, tone, distributed cognition, murmuration, polyvagal theory, field systems, AI-human interaction, enactive cognition