OK there seems be some literalisation of certain images the people in area X have. The biologist and Control both speak of a "brightness" inside of them. Those are the exact words Saul Evans uses when he talks about people (before area X becomes a thing), that they all have a brightness inside of them that they direct towards each other, as a metaphor for how people interact with each other.

The director likens the influence of area X as "a silouhette writhing against a dull white screen". That really reminds me of the wall Control touches just before area X expands when the director returns.

Perhaps I too am searching for patterns that aren't there.