Bioelectric networks: the cognitive glue enabling evolutionary scaling from physiology to mind

Animal Cognition, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 26(6), P. 1865 - 1891

Published: May 19, 2023

Abstract Each of us made the remarkable journey from mere matter to mind: starting life as a quiescent oocyte (“just chemistry and physics”), slowly, gradually, becoming an adult human with complex metacognitive processes, hopes, dreams. In addition, even though we feel ourselves be unified, single Self, distinct emergent dynamics termite mounds other swarms, reality is that all intelligence collective intelligence: each consists huge number cells working together generate coherent cognitive being goals, preferences, memories belong whole not its parts. Basal cognition quest understand how Mind scales—how large numbers competent subunits can work become intelligences expand scale their possible goals. Crucially, trick turning homeostatic, cell-level physiological competencies into large-scale behavioral limited electrical brain. Evolution was using bioelectric signaling long before neurons muscles appeared, solve problem creating repairing bodies. this Perspective, I review deep symmetry between developmental morphogenesis classical behavior. describe highly conserved mechanisms enable implement regulative embryogenesis, regeneration, cancer suppression. sketch story evolutionary pivot repurposed algorithms cellular machinery navigation morphospace 3D world which so readily recognize intelligence. Understanding underlie construction bodies brains provides essential path understanding natural evolution, bioengineered design, diverse within beyond phylogenetic history Earth.

Language: Английский

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Collective intelligence: A unifying concept for integrating biology across scales and substrates

Communications Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 7(1)

Published: March 28, 2024

Abstract A defining feature of biology is the use a multiscale architecture, ranging from molecular networks to cells, tissues, organs, whole bodies, and swarms. Crucially however, not only nested structurally, but also functionally: each level able solve problems in distinct problem spaces, such as physiological, morphological, behavioral state space. Percolating adaptive functionality one competent subunits higher functional organization requires collective dynamics: multiple components must work together achieve specific outcomes. Here we overview number biological examples at different scales which highlight ability cellular material make decisions that implement cooperation toward homeodynamic endpoints, intelligence by solving cell, tissue, whole-organism levels. We explore hypothesis province groups animals, an important symmetry exists between science swarms competencies cells other systems scales. then briefly outline implications this approach, possible impact tools field diverse for regenerative medicine synthetic bioengineering.

Language: Английский

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Active inference as a theory of sentient behavior

Biological Psychology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 186, P. 108741 - 108741

Published: Jan. 4, 2024

This review paper offers an overview of the history and future active inference—a unifying perspective on action perception. Active inference is based upon idea that sentient behavior depends our brains' implicit use internal models to predict, infer, direct action. Our focus conceptual roots development this theory (basic) sentience does not follow a rigid chronological narrative. We trace evolution from Helmholtzian ideas unconscious inference, through contemporary understanding In doing so, we touch related perspectives, neural underpinnings opportunities for development. Key steps in include formulation predictive coding theories neuronal message passing, sequential planning policy optimization, importance hierarchical (temporally) deep (i.e., generative or world) models. has been used account aspects anatomy neurophysiology, offer psychopathology terms aberrant precision control, unify extant psychological theories. anticipate further all these areas note exciting early work applying beyond neuroscience. suggests just biology, but robotics, machine learning, artificial intelligence.

Language: Английский

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An information-theoretic perspective on the costs of cognition

Neuropsychologia, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 123, P. 5 - 18

Published: Sept. 28, 2018

Language: Английский

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From allostatic agents to counterfactual cognisers: active inference, biological regulation, and the origins of cognition

Biology & Philosophy, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 35(3)

Published: April 29, 2020

Language: Английский

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The Emperor's New Markov Blankets

Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 45

Published: Oct. 22, 2021

The free energy principle, an influential framework in computational neuroscience and theoretical neurobiology, starts from the assumption that living systems ensure adaptive exchanges with their environment by minimizing objective function of variational energy. Following this premise, it claims to deliver a promising integration life sciences. In recent work, Markov blankets, one central constructs have been applied resolve debates philosophy (such as demarcating boundaries mind). aim paper is twofold. First, we trace development blankets starting standard application Bayesian networks, via inference, use literature on active inference. We then identify persistent confusion between formal epistemic tool for novel metaphysical demarcate physical boundary agent its environment. Consequently, propose distinguish "Pearl blankets" refer original "Friston new construct. Second, distinction critically assess resting philosophical problems. suggest would do well differentiating two different research programmes: "inference model" within model." Only latter capable doing work but requires additional premises cannot be justified appeal success mathematical alone.

Language: Английский

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Towards a computational phenomenology of mental action: modelling meta-awareness and attentional control with deep parametric active inference

Neuroscience of Consciousness, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 2021(1)

Published: Aug. 26, 2021

Abstract Meta-awareness refers to the capacity explicitly notice current content of consciousness and has been identified as a key component for successful control cognitive states, such deliberate direction attention. This paper proposes formal model meta-awareness attentional using hierarchical active inference. To do so, we cast mental action policy selection over higher-level states add further level that modulate expected confidence (precision) in mapping between observations hidden states. We simulate example mind-wandering its regulation during task involving sustained selective attention on perceptual object. provides computational case study an inferential architecture is apt enable emergence these central components human phenomenology, namely, ability access propose this approach can be generalized other hence, first steps towards development phenomenology more broadly our monitor own Future work will focus fitting with qualitative, behavioural, neural data.

Language: Английский

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An interoceptive illusion of effort induced by false heart-rate feedback

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 116(28), P. 13897 - 13902

Published: June 24, 2019

Significance To ensure our survival, the brain continuously estimates important homeostatic and physiological variables, such as hunger, thirst, effort levels. This estimate relies on multiple signals, most prominently interoceptive signals coming from inside body (e.g., cardiac respiratory signals). Here we tested hypothesis that providing false feedback about these produces an illusion, is a misperception of one’s own state. We show giving participants (faster) acoustic their heartbeats during effortful cycling task induced illusion making more effort. Rather, did not report lower when slower was provided, suggesting considers potential costs underestimating fatigue

Language: Английский

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A World Unto Itself: Human Communication as Active Inference

Frontiers in Psychology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: March 25, 2020

Recent theoretical work in developmental psychology suggests that humans are predisposed to align their mental states with those of other individuals. One way this manifests is cooperative communication; is, intentional communication aimed at aligning individuals' respect events shared environment. This idea has received strong empirical support. The purpose paper extend account by proposing an integrative model the biobehavioral dynamics communication. Our formulation based on active inference. Active inference action-perception cycles operate minimize uncertainty and optimize individual's internal world. We propose characterized evolved adaptive prior belief aligned with, or similar to, conspecifics (i.e., 'we same sort creature, inhabiting niche'). use emerges as principal means gather evidence for belief, allowing development a narrative used disambiguate interactants' (hidden inferred) states. Thus, using communication, individuals effectively attune hermeneutic niche composed, part, others' states; and, reciprocally, own ends via epistemic construction. construction enables features encode precise, reliable cues about deontic value certain action policies (e.g., utility communicative constructions states, given expectations beliefs). In turn, alignment (prior beliefs) emergence novel, contextualizing scale cultural encompasses actions ensemble interactants layer organization feedback, across scales, constrain variability who constitute it. theory additionally builds upon literature introducing new set neurobiologically plausible computational hypotheses conclude directions future research.

Language: Английский

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Tracing 20 years of research on problematic use of the internet and social media: Theoretical models, assessment tools, and an agenda for future work

Comprehensive Psychiatry, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 112, P. 152286 - 152286

Published: Oct. 30, 2021

Over the past two decades, there has been increasing interest in impact of internet use and growing concern about whether problematic (PUI) constitutes an addiction. Despite number studies investigating PUI subtypes, its conceptualization inclusion a classification system have not possible yet. Several models aimed at inspiring clinical research practice proposed mechanisms involved social media, multiple self-report instruments consequentially developed. The diversity theoretical currently hinders standardized assessment procedures across and, turn, their comparability. purpose present overview is to highlight current both order critically discuss existing fragmentation field need achieve conceptual convergence. Two suggestions for future directions are also provided, i.e., define diagnostic criteria by bottom-up top-down processes develop psychobiological hypothesis including description higher-order other psychopathological conditions (e.g., available internet-related cues outcomes that may lead parallel forms associative learning; probabilities obtaining reinforcements; intrinsic motivation processes).

Language: Английский

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