Is the Free-Energy Principle a Formal Theory of Semantics? From Variational Density Dynamics to Neural and Phenotypic Representations

Entropy, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 22(8), P. 889 - 889

Published: Aug. 13, 2020

The aim of this paper is twofold: (1) to assess whether the construct neural representations plays an explanatory role under variational free-energy principle and its corollary process theory, active inference; (2) if so, which philosophical stance—in relation ontological epistemological status representations—is most appropriate. We focus on non-realist (deflationary fictionalist-instrumentalist) approaches. consider a deflationary account mental representation, according explanatorily relevant contents are mathematical, rather than cognitive, fictionalist or instrumentalist account, scientifically useful fictions that serve (and other) aims. After reviewing inference, we argue model adaptive phenotypes can be used furnish formal semantics, enabling us assign semantic content specific phenotypic states (the internal Markovian system exists far from equilibrium). propose modified account—an organism-centered fictionalism instrumentalism. that, principle, pursuing even licenses appeal kind involved in ‘aboutness’ intentionality cognitive systems; our position thus coherent with, but rests distinct assumptions from, realist position. thereby explains aboutness living systems hence their capacity parse sensory stream using ontology set factors.

Language: Английский

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Osteopathic Care as (En)active Inference: A Theoretical Framework for Developing an Integrative Hypothesis in Osteopathy

Frontiers in Psychology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 13

Published: Feb. 18, 2022

Osteopathy is a person-centred healthcare discipline that emphasizes the body’s structure-function interrelationship—and its self-regulatory mechanisms—to inform whole-person approach to health and wellbeing. This paper aims provide theoretical framework for developing an integrative hypothesis in osteopathy, which based on enactivist active inference accounts. We propose osteopathic care can be reconceptualised under (En)active as unifying framework. Active suggests action-perception cycles operate minimize uncertainty optimize individual’s internal model of lived world and, crucially, consequences their behaviour. argue offers evince mechanisms underlying dyadic triadic (e.g., paediatric care) exchanges outcomes. this underpin across lifespan, from preterm infants elderly those with persistent pain other physical symptoms. In situations chronicity, ecological niche, patient-practitioner dyad provides osteopath patient set affordances, i.e., possibilities action provided by environment, through shared intentionally, promote adaptations restoration productive agency. Through therapeutic relationship, they engage niche’s affordances—a structured affordances agents—osteopath actively construct sense-making narrative realise generative relation niche. general, touch plays critical role robust alliance, mental state alignment, biobehavioural synchrony between practitioner. However, particularly crucial fields neonatology paediatrics, where it becomes central regulating allostasis restoring homeostasis. standpoint, niche underwrites effectiveness care. Considerations implications model—to clinical practice research, both within- outside osteopathy—are critically discussed.

Language: Английский

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A cultural-ecosocial systems view for psychiatry

Frontiers in Psychiatry, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14

Published: April 13, 2023

While contemporary psychiatry seeks the mechanisms of mental disorders in neurobiology, health problems clearly depend on developmental processes learning and adaptation through ongoing interactions with social environment. Symptoms or emerge specific contexts involve predicaments that cannot be fully characterized terms brain function but require a larger social-ecological view. Causal result can begin anywhere within extended system body-person-environment. In particular, individuals' narrative self-construal, culturally mediated interpretations symptoms coping strategies as well responses others world contribute to disorders, illness experience, recovery. this paper, we outline conceptual basis practical implications hierarchical ecosocial systems view for an integrative approach psychiatric theory practice. The cultural-ecosocial propose understands mind, person situated constituted by cultural self-reflexive processes. This incorporated into pragmatic clinical assessment case formulation characterizes pathology identifies targets intervention.

Language: Английский

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The Radically Embodied Conscious Cybernetic Bayesian Brain: From Free Energy to Free Will and Back Again

Entropy, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 23(6), P. 783 - 783

Published: June 20, 2021

Drawing from both enactivist and cognitivist perspectives on mind, I propose that explaining teleological phenomena may require reappraising "Cartesian theaters" mental homunculi in terms of embodied self-models (ESMs), understood as body maps with agentic properties, functioning predictive-memory systems cybernetic controllers. Quasi-homuncular ESMs are suggested to constitute a major organizing principle for neural architectures due their initial ongoing significance solutions inference problems cognitive (and affective) development. Embodied experiences provide foundational lessons learning curriculums which agents explore increasingly challenging problem spaces, so answering an unresolved question Bayesian science: what biologically plausible mechanisms equipping learners sufficiently powerful inductive biases adequately constrain spaces? models neurophysiology, psychology, developmental robotics, describe how embodiment provides fundamental sources empirical priors (as reliably learnable posterior expectations). If play this kind role development, then bidirectional linkages will be found between all sensory modalities frontal-parietal control hierarchies, infusing senses somatic-motoric thereby structuring perception by relevant affordances, solving frame agents. upon the Free Energy Principle Active Inference framework, particular mechanism intentional action selection via consciously imagined explicitly represented) goal realization, where contrasts desired present states influence policy predictive coding backward-chained imaginings self-realizing predictions). This legacy suggests can intentionally shaped (internalized) partially-expressed motor acts, providing means attention, working memory, imagination, behavior. further nature(s) causation self-control, also account readiness potentials Libet paradigms wherein conscious intentions shape causal streams leading enaction. Finally, neurophenomenological handlings prototypical qualia including pleasure, pain, desire self-annihilating free energy gradients quasi-synesthetic interoceptive active inference. In brief, manuscript is intended illustrate radically minds create foundations intelligence capacity inference), consciousness somatically-grounded self-world modeling), deployment enacting valued goals).

Language: Английский

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Epistemic Communities under Active Inference

Entropy, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 24(4), P. 476 - 476

Published: March 29, 2022

The spread of ideas is a fundamental concern today’s news ecology. Understanding the dynamics information and its co-option by interested parties critical importance. Research on this topic has shown that individuals tend to cluster in echo-chambers are driven confirmation bias. In paper, we leverage active inference framework provide an silico model bias effect echo-chamber formation. We build based inference, where agents sample order justify their own view reality, which eventually leads them have high degree certainty about beliefs. show that, once reached certain level beliefs, it becomes very difficult get change views. This system self-confirming beliefs upheld reinforced evolving relationship between agent’s observations, over time will continue evidence for ingrained world. epistemic communities consolidated these shared turn, produce perceptions reality reinforce those account community formation mechanism. postulate value they obtain from sampling or observing behaviours other agents. Inspired digital social networks like Twitter, generative generate observable claims posts (e.g., ‘tweets’) while reading socially lend support one two mutually exclusive abstract topics. Agents can choose agent pay attention at each timestep, crucially who attend what read influences also assess local network’s perspective, influencing kinds expect see making. was built simulated using freely available Python package pymdp. proposed reproduce networks, gives us insight into cognitive processes lead phenomenon.

Language: Английский

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Natural language syntax complies with the free-energy principle

Synthese, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 203(5)

Published: May 3, 2024

Abstract Natural language syntax yields an unbounded array of hierarchically structured expressions. We claim that these are used in the service active inference accord with free-energy principle (FEP). While conceptual advances alongside modelling and simulation work have attempted to connect speech segmentation linguistic communication FEP, we extend this program underlying computations responsible for generating syntactic objects. argue recently proposed principles economy design—such as “minimal search” criteria from theoretical syntax—adhere FEP. This affords a greater degree explanatory power FEP—with respect higher functions—and offers linguistics grounding first computability. mostly focus on building new principled relations between also show through sample preliminary examples how both tree-geometric depth Kolmogorov complexity estimate (recruiting Lempel–Ziv compression algorithm) can be accurately predict legal operations workspaces, directly line formulations variational free energy minimization. is motivate general design term Turing–Chomsky Compression (TCC). use TCC align concerns linguists normative account self-organization furnished by marshalling evidence psycholinguistics ground core efficient computation within inference.

Language: Английский

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Osteopathy and Mental Health: An Embodied, Predictive, and Interoceptive Framework

Frontiers in Psychology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: Oct. 27, 2021

Globally, mental and musculoskeletal disorders present with high prevalence, disease burden, comorbidity. In order to improve the quality of care for patients persistent physical comorbid health conditions, person-centered approaches addressing psychosocial factors are currently advocated. Central successful is a multidisciplinary collaboration between specialists underpinned by robust therapeutic alliance. Such collaborative approach might be found in osteopathy, which typically utilized treat but may arguably also benefit outcomes. However, research practice exploring reputed effect osteopathy on problems lack framework. this hypothesis theory article, we build upon from embodied cognition, predictive coding, interoception, propose an embodied, interoceptive framework that underpins osteopathic individuals problems. Based premise that, example, chronic pain depression underlined overly precise predictions or imprecise sensory information, hypothesize treatment generate strong prediction errors update generative model underpinning experience depression. Thus, symptoms reduced through active perceptual inference. We discuss how these theoretical perspectives can inform future into reduce burden psychological support health.

Language: Английский

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Enactive-Dynamic Social Cognition and Active Inference

Frontiers in Psychology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 13

Published: April 29, 2022

This aim of this paper is two-fold: it critically analyses and rejects accounts blending active inference as theory mind enactivism; advances an enactivist-dynamic understanding social cognition that compatible with inference. While some theories seemingly take enactive perspective on cognition, they explain the attribution mental states to other people, by assuming representational structures, in line classic Theory Mind (ToM). Holding both enactivism ToM, we argue, entails contradiction confusion due two ToM assumptions widely known be rejected enactivism: (1) reduces representation (2) a hardwired contentful ‘toolkit’ or ‘starter pack’ fuels model-like theorising supposed (1). The offers positive alternative, one avoids contradictions confusion. After rejecting ToM-inspired clarifying profile under enactivism, without (2), last section model dynamic, real-time, fluid, contextual action, where use formalisms dynamical systems origins socio-cognitive novelty developmental change tool demonstrate generalised synchronisation.

Language: Английский

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“We meet reality only in our prediction errors.” On the source of new patterns in art.

The Proceedings of the World Conference on English Literature and Linguistics., Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 1(1), P. 19 - 33

Published: Jan. 8, 2025

The analysis of two novels by Joyce Carol Oates - Blonde and Gravedigger's Daughter aims to consider a hypothesis concerning the relationship between aesthetic experience ability switch master narrative framework (MNF) alternative narrative. Master narratives have many uses for members group (utility principle), such as providing relevant information understanding group’s rules characteristics (e.g., its history, values, social norms). Most culture effectively accept internalize without recognizing them explicitly (invisibility principle). fact that are unconsciously internalized ready-made guides how live life understand lives others facilitates adaptation alleviating necessity effortful reflection on everyday choices, actions, or events.

Language: Английский

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El Poder del Pensamiento en la Construcción del Yo: Análisis Comparativo de Lacan y Kierkegaard con Implicaciones Terapéuticas

Estudios y Perspectivas Revista Científica y Académica, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 5(1), P. 2531 - 2549

Published: March 24, 2025

Este estudio realiza un análisis teórico-comparativo sobre el rol del pensamiento en la construcción de identidad, combinando las perspectivas Jacques Lacan y Søren Kierkegaard con aportes psicología narrativa neurociencia cognitiva. Se abordan conceptos como Estadio Espejo, enfatizando mediación simbólica formación yo, angustia existencial, que resalta libertad elección. A través este examen, se identifican convergencias —la importancia subjetividad reflexión— divergencias —el papel lenguaje amplitud elección— constitución sujeto. Además, explora cómo narrativas personales pueden reconfigurar identidad favorecer bienestar. Los resultados sugieren emerge interacción dinámica entre estructuras simbólicas heredadas capacidad asumir ejercer reflexiva, implicaciones para práctica clínica crecimiento personal. Finalmente, proponen futuras líneas investigación, incluyendo estudios interculturales, uso neuroimagen desarrollo intervenciones enfocadas transformación los significados personales.

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