The Way We Prompt: Conceptual Blending, Neural Dynamics, and Prompt-Induced Transitions in LLMs

Large language models (LLMs), inspired by neuroscience, exhibit behaviors that often evoke a sense of personality and intelligence-yet the mechanisms behind these effects remain elusive. Here, we operationalize Conceptual Blending Theory (CBT) as an experimental framework, using prompt-based methods to reveal how LLMs blend and compress meaning. By systematically investigating Prompt-Induced Transitions (PIT) and Prompt-Induced Hallucinations (PIH), we uncover structural parallels and divergences between artificial and biological cognition. Our approach bridges linguistics, neuroscience, and empirical AI research, demonstrating that human-AI collaboration can serve as a living prototype for the future of cognitive science. This work proposes prompt engineering not just as a technical tool, but as a scientific method for probing the deep structure of meaning itself.

@article{sato2025_2505.10948,
  title={ The Way We Prompt: Conceptual Blending, Neural Dynamics, and Prompt-Induced Transitions in LLMs },
  author={ Makoto Sato },
  journal={arXiv preprint arXiv:2505.10948},
  year={ 2025 }
}