Computational Theory of Perception, Behavior, and Communication

-What is the Free Energy Principle?

Abstract

The various functions of animals, including humans, are considered to be designed to minimize Helmholtz free energy (or more precisely, its information-theoretic version, variational free energy). Minimizing free energy closes the cycle of perception and motion. Notably, it is through this repetition that we adapt to the world. This function is called active inference, which emerges whenever we sample information from the world by moving or acting in a way that minimizes free energy. Active inference is the proof of one’s existence. In this talk, I will introduce the process theory of the free energy principle, especially with regard to perception, motor control, and attentional functions.