Basic Information

Name: Nikesh Lagun
(Oct 2005–）

Birth
Location: Dhading, Nepal

Title: Researcher

Affiliation: Independent Researcher

Honor: Father of Cognitive Drive Architecture (CDA)

Nikesh Lagun (born October 24, 2005) is a Nepalese independent researcher, productivity writer, and singer-songwriter. He is known for originating Cognitive Drive Architecture (CDA), a first-principles framework for modeling cognitive effort and performance regulation ^[1]. His academic work spans cognitive science, educational research, neuroscience, and systems theory ^[1][2]. Alongside his research, Lagun engages in songwriting, visual art, and public productivity communication ^[3][4].

Early Life and Education

Lagun was born in Dhading Bensi, Dhading District, Nepal ^[2]. He attended Dhading Boarding Secondary School before relocating to Kathmandu in 2018 ^[2]. There, he completed his secondary education at Kantipur English Academy and Southwestern School and later graduated Plus Two from St. Xavier’s College, Maitighar, Kathmandu ^[2].

He began writing songs at the age of twelve and later learned to play guitar, drums, and keyboard ^[3]. His early musical influences included Ed Sheeran, Sajjan Raj Vaidya, Samir Shrestha, and One Direction ^[3]. In parallel, Lagun explored visual art, creating mechanical sketches, concept art, and anime-inspired drawings ^[2].

In 2022, he received the Outstanding Award from the Private and Boarding Schools' Organization Nepal (PABSON) for academic achievement during the Secondary Education Examination (SEE-2078) ^[8].

Career

Research and Publications

Lagun’s principal academic contribution is the development of Cognitive Drive Architecture (CDA), which proposes that cognitive effort emerges from dynamic system configurations rather than static motivational traits ^[1][5]. CDA addresses drive ignition, attention stability, and performance volatility through a structural and control-theoretic lens ^[1][5].

In addition to CDA, he has authored several independent studies, including:

• Cognitive Thermostat Theory (CTT): A Control-Theoretic Model of Drive Ignition in Cognitive Drive Architecture (CDA) (2025), introducing a control-theoretic model for ignition dynamics ^[1].
• Lagun’s Law and the Foundations of Cognitive Drive Architecture: A First Principles Theory of Effort and Performance (2025), offering a first-principles model of cognitive effort ^[5].
• A Review of Social Media's Psychological Effects on Young Adults' Mental Health (2025), analyzing cognitive and emotional impacts of digital platforms ^[6].
• Evaluating variation in school dropout rates in rural Nepal: A statistical study (2024), a statistical study of education retention ^[7].
• Study of the Effects of Different Mechanical Mishaps or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) on Brain Regions (2024), a review of neurological trauma ^[8].
• Observation of Dominant and Recessive Character in Humans (2023), an observational study on inheritance of traits ^[8].

He has also served as a peer reviewer for the International Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Case Reports ^[9].

His research profiles are indexed in OSF Preprints^[1],  Sciety^[5], and SSRN ^[10].

Productivity Writing

Since 2024, Lagun has written the Weekly Productivity Pulse, a newsletter providing cognitive strategies for productivity, focus, and resilience ^[4].

Music and Visual Art

Lagun composes and releases acoustic music available on Spotify, Deezer, and YouTube Music ^[3]. His principal releases include:

• Timi Ra Ma (2024)

• Mayalu (2024)

• Ekasi Timi (Featured Artist, 2024)

• Bhagi Jaun (Featured Artist, 2024)

In addition to music, Lagun produces visual artworks, including mechanical schematics and digital fan art inspired by anime series ^[2].

Recognition

• Outstanding Award, Private and Boarding Schools' Organization Nepal (PABSON), 2022 ^[8].