Relevance of Karl J. Friston's Free Energy Principle

In summary, the free-energy principle is a model that attempts to explain how the brain works. It is not easy to understand, and it seems to derive from the concept of thermodynamics.
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  • #3
Ryan_m_b said:
I can't comment on how valid the model is because I don't understand it but here is an article which may explain it in better detail:
indeed, it is not easy to understand this approach, which seem to derive from the concept of thermodynamics :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermodynamic_free_energy

Thank for the article

Patrick
 
  • #4
In classical physics, dynamical equations can be derived from a principle of least action.

We can ask the inverse question, which dynamical equations mininimize an action? This question has been addressed by Tonti (and others).
http://www.dic.univ.trieste.it/perspage/tonti/DEPOSITO/Nonlinear.pdf
http://www.dic.univ.trieste.it/perspage/tonti/DEPOSITO/Rassias.pdf
http://www.dic.univ.trieste.it/perspage/tonti/DEPOSITO/Tonti-russi.pdf

Here is some related work on energy functions for "self-organizing maps".
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1606243
 
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  • #5
Perhaps closer to the technicalities of the article, many forms of approximate inference can be stated using variational language.

http://www.merl.com/publications/docs/TR2001-22.pdf
Understanding Belief Propagation and its Generalizations
Jonathan S. Yedidia, William T. Freeman, and Yair Weiss

http://www.cs.princeton.edu/courses/archive/spr06/cos598C/papers/YedidaFreemanWeiss2004.pdf
Constructing Free Energy Approximations and Generalized Belief Propagation Algorithms
Jonathan S. Yedidia, William T. Freeman, and Yair Weiss

https://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/~wainwrig/Papers/WaiJor08_FTML.pdf
Graphical Models, Exponential Families, and Variational Inference
Martin J. Wainwright and Michael I. Jordan

http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~jordan/papers/variational-intro.pdf
An Introduction to Variational Methods for Graphical Models
Michael Jordan, Zoubin Ghahramani, Tomi Jaakkola, Lawrence Saul
 

1. What is the Free Energy Principle proposed by Karl J. Friston?

The Free Energy Principle is a theoretical framework proposed by Karl J. Friston that aims to explain how living organisms maintain their internal states and adapt to their environment. It suggests that organisms minimize the free energy in their sensory signals by actively predicting and updating their internal models of the world.

2. How is the Free Energy Principle relevant to neuroscience?

The Free Energy Principle has gained significant attention in the field of neuroscience as it provides a unifying framework for understanding various brain processes, such as perception, cognition, and action. It suggests that the brain works to minimize free energy, which can help explain how the brain generates and updates its internal models to make predictions about the world.

3. Can the Free Energy Principle be applied to other fields besides neuroscience?

Yes, the Free Energy Principle has been applied to various fields such as psychology, artificial intelligence, and philosophy. It has also been used to understand complex systems, such as social systems and economics, as they can also be seen as working to minimize free energy.

4. What are some potential criticisms of the Free Energy Principle?

Some criticisms of the Free Energy Principle include its lack of empirical evidence, as it is still a theoretical framework, and the complexity of its concepts, which can make it challenging to apply in practical settings. Additionally, some argue that it may oversimplify the complexity of the brain and its processes.

5. How can the Free Energy Principle be useful in understanding mental disorders?

The Free Energy Principle has been proposed as a potential framework for understanding mental disorders, such as schizophrenia and depression. It suggests that disruptions in minimizing free energy could lead to abnormal brain functioning and contribute to the development of these disorders. This can provide insights for developing new treatments and interventions for mental health conditions.

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