The emotions layer adjusts thresholds and cadences based on system state, using the four hormones (cortisol, serotonin, adrenaline, oxytocin). It doesn't rewrite what cells do — it modulates how readily they fire (R6: hormones modulate, never override). Rising errors raise cortisol, tightening gates; good verify scores raise serotonin, loosening them. It's the regulator pass that makes the organism adaptive.