AUTHOR=Mahrouk Abdelaali 

TITLE=Epistemic limits of local interpretability in self-modulating cognitive architectures

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/artificial-intelligence/articles/10.3389/frai.2025.1677528

DOI=10.3389/frai.2025.1677528

ISSN=2624-8212

ABSTRACT=IntroductionLocal interpretability methods such as LIME and SHAP are widely used to explain model decisions. However, they rely on assumptions of local continuity that often fail in recursive, self-modulating cognitive architectures.MethodsWe analyze the limitations of local proxy models through formal reasoning, simulation experiments, and epistemological framing. We introduce constructs such as Modular Cognitive Attention (MCA), the Cognitive Leap Operator (Ψ), and the Internal Narrative Generator (ING).ResultsOur findings show that local perturbations yield divergent interpretive outcomes depending on internal cognitive states. Narrative coherence emerges from recursive policy dynamics, and traditional attribution methods fail to capture bifurcation points in decision space.DiscussionWe argue for a shift from post-hoc local approximations to embedded narrative-based interpretability. This reframing supports epistemic transparency in future AGI systems and aligns with cognitive theories of understanding.