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Added Zurek, Tononi, and Friston foundational papers (PDF and Markdown)
2026-05-30 03:51:25 +00:00
REVIEWS
The free-energy principle:
a unified brain theory?
Karl Friston
Abstract | A free-energy principle has been proposed recently that accounts for action,
perception and learning. This Review looks at some key brain theories in the biological (for
example, neural Darwinism) and physical (for example, information theory and optimal
control theory) sciences from the free-energy perspective. Crucially, one key theme runs
through each of these theories — optimization. Furthermore, if we look closely at what is
optimized, the same quantity keeps emerging, namely value (expected reward, expected
utility) or its complement, surprise (prediction error, expected cost). This is the quantity that
is optimized under the free-energy principle, which suggests that several global brain
theories might be unified within a free-energy framework.
Free energy Despite the wealth of empirical data in neuroscience, Motivation: resisting a tendency to disorder. The
An information theory measure there are relatively few global theories about how the defining characteristic of biological systems is that
that bounds or limits (by being brain works. A recently proposed free-energy principle they maintain their states and form in the face of a
greater than) the surprise on 3–6
for adaptive systems tries to provide a unified account constantly changing environment . From the point
sampling some data, given a of action, perception and learning. Although this prin- of view of the brain, the environment includes both
generative model. ciple has been portrayed as a unified brain theory1, its the external and the internal milieu. This maintenance
Homeostasis capacity to unify different perspectives on brain function of order is seen at many levels and distinguishes bio-
The process whereby an open has yet to be established. This Review attempts to place logical from other self-organizing systems; indeed, the
or closed system regulates its some key theories within the free-energy framework, in physiology of biological systems can be reduced almost
internal environment to the hope of identifying common themes. I first review entirely to their homeostasis7. More precisely, the rep-
maintain its states within the free-energy principle and then deconstruct several ertoire of physiological and sensory states in which an
bounds. global brain theories to show how they all speak to the organism can be is limited, and these states define the
Entropy same underlying idea. organism’s phenotype. Mathematically, this means that
The average surprise of the probability of these (interoceptive and exterocep-
outcomes sampled from a The free-energy principle tive) sensory states must have low entropy; in other
probability distribution or The free-energy principle (BOX 1) says that any self- words, there is a high probability that a system will
density. A density with low
entropy means that, on organizing system that is at equilibrium with its environ- be in any of a small number of states, and a low prob-
average, the outcome is ment must minimize its free energy2. The principle is ability that it will be in the remaining states. Entropy
relatively predictable. Entropy essentially a mathematical formulation of how adaptive is also the average self information or ‘surprise’8
is therefore a measure of systems (that is, biological agents, like animals or brains) (more formally, it is the negative log-probability of an
uncertainty.
resist a natural tendency to disorder3–6. What follows is outcome). Here, ‘a fish out of water’ would be in a sur-
a non-mathematical treatment of the motivation and prising state (both emotionally and mathematically).
implications of the principle. We will see that although the A fish that frequently forsook water would have high
motivation is quite straightforward, the implications are entropy. Note that both surprise and entropy depend
The Wellcome Trust Centre complicated and diverse. This diversity allows the prin- on the agent: what is surprising for one agent (for
for Neuroimaging, ciple to account for many aspects of brain structure and example, being out of water) may not be surprising
University College London, function and lends it the potential to unify different per- for another. Biological agents must therefore mini-
Queen Square, London,
WC1N 3BG, UK. spectives on how the brain works. In subsequent sections, mize the long-term average of surprise to ensure that
e‑mail: I discuss how the principle can be applied to neuronal their sensory entropy remains low. In other words,
k.friston@fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk systems as viewed from these perspectives. This Review biological systems somehow manage to violate the
doi:10.1038/nrn2787 starts in a rather abstract and technical way but then tries fluctuation theorem, which generalizes the second law
Published online
13 January 2010 9
to unpack the basic idea in more familiar terms. of thermodynamics .
NATuRE REvIEWs | NeuroscieNce voluME 11 | FEBRuARy 2010 | 127
© 2010 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved
REVIEWS
Box 1 | The free-energy principle
Part a of the figure shows the dependencies among the a
quantities that define free energy. These include the Environment Agent
internal states of the brain μ(t) and quantities describing its
exchange with the environment: sensory signals (and their Sensations
T ~ ~ ~
motion) ˜s(t) = [s,s′,s″…] plus action a(t). The environment s = g(x, ϑ) + z
is described by equations of motion, which specify the
trajectory of its hidden states. The causes ϑ ⊃ {x˜ , θ, γ } of External states Internal states
sensory input comprise hidden states x˜ (t), parameters θ ~ ~ ~ ~
˙
x = f(x, μ = arg min F(s,
and precisions γcontrolling the amplitude of the random a, ϑ) + w μ)
fluctuations z˜ (t) and w˜ (t). Internal brain states and action
minimize free energy F(s˜ ,μ), which is a function of sensory Action or control signals
input and a probabilistic representation q(ϑ|μ) of its causes. ~
a = arg min F(s,
This representation is called the recognition density and is μ)
encoded by internal states μ.
The free energy depends on two probability densities: b
the recognition density q(ϑ|μ) and one that generates Free-energy bound on surprise
sensory samples and their causes, p(s˜ ,ϑ|m). The latter ~
F = −<ln p(s,
ϑ | m)> + <ln q(ϑ | μ)>
represents a probabilistic generative model (denoted by q q
m), the form of which is entailed by the agent or brain. Action minimizes prediction errors
Part b of the figure provides alternative expressions for the F = D(q(ϑ ~
| μ) || p(ϑ)) − <ln p(s(a) | ϑ, m)>q
free energy to show what its minimization entails: action a = arg max Accuracy
can reduce free energy only by increasing accuracy (that is,
selectively sampling data that are predicted). Conversely, Perception optimizes predictions
optimizing brain states makes the representation an ~ ~
Surprise approximate conditional density on the causes of sensory F = D(q(ϑ | μ) || p(ϑ | s)) − ln p(s | m)
(Surprisal or self information.) input. This enables action to avoid surprising sensory μ = arg max Divergence
The negative log-probability of encounters. A more formal description is provided below.
an outcome. An improbable optimizing the sufficient statistics (representations)
outcome (for example, water Nature Reviews | Neuroscience
Optimizing the recognition density makes it a posterior or conditional density on the causes of sensory data: this can be
flowing uphill) is therefore seen by expressing the free energy as surprise –In p(s˜ ,| m) plus a Kullback-Leibler divergence between the recognition and
surprising. conditional densities (encoded by the ‘internal states’ in the figure). Because this difference is always positive, minimizing
Fluctuation theorem free energy makes the recognition density an approximate posterior probability. This means the agent implicitly infers or
(A term from statistical represents the causes of its sensory samples in a Bayes-optimal fashion. At the same time, the free energy becomes a tight
mechanics.) Deals with the bound on surprise, which is minimized through action.
probability that the entropy optimizing action
of a system that is far from the Acting on the environment by minimizing free energy enforces a sampling of sensory data that is consistent with the
thermodynamic equilibrium current representation. This can be seen with a second rearrangement of the free energy as a mixture of accuracy and
will increase or decrease over complexity. Crucially, action can only affect accuracy (encoded by the ‘external states’ in the figure). This means that
a given amount of time. It the brain will reconfigure its sensory epithelia to sample inputs that are predicted by the recognition density — in other
states that the probability of
the entropy decreasing words, to minimize prediction error.
becomes exponentially smaller
with time.
Attractor In short, the long-term (distal) imperative — of main- Crucially, free energy can be evaluated because it is a
A set to which a dynamical taining states within physiological bounds — translates function of two things to which the agent has access: its
system evolves after a long into a short-term (proximal) avoidance of surprise. sensory states and a recognition density that is encoded
enough time. Points that surprise here relates not just to the current state, which by its internal states (for example, neuronal activity
get close to the attractor cannot be changed, but also to movement from one state and connection strengths). The recognition density is a
remain close, even under to another, which can change. This motion can be com- probabilistic representation of what caused a particular
small perturbations.
plicated and itinerant (wandering) provided that it revis- sensation.
Kullback-Leibler divergence its a small set of states, called a global random attractor10, This (variational) free-energy construct was
(Or information divergence, that are compatible with survival (for example, driving a introduced into statistical physics to convert difficult
information gain or cross car within a small margin of error). It is this motion that probability-density integration problems into eas-
entropy.) A non-commutative
11
measure of the non-negative the free-energy principle optimizes. ier optimization problems . It is an information
difference between two so far, all we have said is that biological agents must theoretic quantity (like surprise), as opposed to a
probability distributions. avoid surprises to ensure that their states remain within thermo dynamic quantity. variational free energy has
Recognition density physiological bounds (see supplementary information s1 been exploited in machine learning and statistics to
12–14
(Or ‘approximating conditional (box) for a more formal argument). But how do they solve many inference and learning problems . In this
density’.) An approximate do this? A system cannot know whether its sensations setting, surprise is called the (negative) model evidence.
probability distribution of the are surprising and could not avoid them even if it did This means that minimizing surprise is the same as
causes of data (for example, know. This is where free energy comes in: free energy is maximizing the sensory evidence for an agent’s exist-
sensory input). It is the product an upper bound on surprise, which means that if agents ence, if we regard the agent as a model of its world. In
of inference or inverting a
generative model. minimize free energy, they implicitly minimize surprise. the present context, free energy provides the answer to
128 | FEBRuARy 2010 | voluME 11 www.nature.com/reviews/neuro
© 2010 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved
REVIEWS
a fundamental question: how do self-organizing adap- In summary, the free energy rests on a model of how
tive systems avoid surprising states? They can do this by sensory data are generated and on a recognition density
minimizing their free energy. so what does this involve? on the model’s parameters (that is, sensory causes). Free
energy can be reduced only by changing the recognition
Implications: action and perception. Agents can density to change conditional expectations about what is
suppress free energy by changing the two things it depends sampled or by changing sensory samples (that is, sensory
Generative model on: they can change sensory input by acting on the world input) so that they conform to expectations. In what fol-
A probabilistic model (joint or they can change their recognition density by chang- lows, I consider these implications in light of some key
density) of the dependencies ing their internal states. This distinction maps nicely theories about the brain.
between causes and onto action and perception (BOX 1). one can see what this
consequences (data), from means in more detail by considering three mathematically The Bayesian brain hypothesis
which samples can be
generated. It is usually 17
equivalent formulations of free energy (see supplementary The Bayesian brain hypothesis uses Bayesian probability
specified in terms of the information s2 (box) for a mathematical treatment). theory to formulate perception as a constructive process
likelihood of data, given their The first formulation expresses free energy as energy based on internal or generative models. The underlying
causes (parameters of a model) 18–22
and priors on the causes. minus entropy. This formulation is important for three idea is that the brain has a model of the world that
23–28
reasons. First, it connects the concept of free energy as it tries to optimize using sensory inputs . This idea is
Conditional density 20
used in information theory with concepts used in sta- related to analysis by synthesis and epistemological autom-
(Or posterior density.) The 19
probability distribution of tistical thermodynamics. second, it shows that the free ata . In this view, the brain is an inference machine that
18,22,25
causes or model parameters, energy can be evaluated by an agent because the energy actively predicts and explains its sensations . Central
given some data; that is, a is the surprise about the joint occurrence of sensations to this hypothesis is a probabilistic model that can gener-
probabilistic mapping from and their perceived causes, whereas the entropy is sim- ate predictions, against which sensory samples are tested
observed data to causes. ply that of the agent’s own recognition density. Third, it to update beliefs about their causes. This generative
Prior shows that free energy rests on a generative model of the model is decomposed into a likelihood (the probability of
The probability distribution or world, which is expressed in terms of the probability of a sensory data, given their causes) and a prior (the a priori
density of the causes of data sensation and its causes occurring together. This means probability of those causes). Perception then becomes the
that encodes beliefs about that an agent must have an implicit generative model of process of inverting the likelihood model (mapping from
those causes before observing how causes conspire to produce sensory data. It is this causes to sensations) to access the posterior probability of
the data. model that defines both the nature of the agent and the the causes, given sensory data (mapping from sensations
Bayesian surprise quality of the free-energy bound on surprise. to causes). This inversion is the same as minimizing the
A measure of salience based The second formulation expresses free energy as difference between the recognition and posterior densi-
on the Kullback-Leibler surprise plus a divergence term. The (perceptual) diver- ties to suppress free energy. Indeed, the free-energy for-
divergence between the gence is just the difference between the recognition den- mulation was developed to finesse the difficult problem
recognition density (which sity and the conditional density (or posterior density) of the of exact inference by converting it into an easier optimi-
encodes posterior beliefs) and
the prior density. It causes of a sensation, given the sensory signals. This con- zation problem11–14. This has furnished some powerful
measures the information that ditional density represents the best possible guess about approximation techniques for model identification and
can be recognized in the data. the true causes. The difference between the two densities comparison (for example, variational Bayes or ensemble
Bayesian brain hypothesis is always non-negative and free energy is therefore an learning29). There are many interesting issues that attend
The idea that the brain uses upper bound on surprise. Thus, minimizing free energy the Bayesian brain hypothesis, which can be illuminated
internal probabilistic by changing the recognition density (without changing by the free-energy principle; we will focus on two.
(generative) models to update sensory data) reduces the perceptual divergence, so that The first is the form of the generative model and
posterior beliefs, using sensory the recognition density becomes the conditional density how it manifests in the brain. one criticism of Bayesian
information, in an and the free energy becomes surprise. treatments is that they ignore the question of how prior
(approximately) Bayes-optimal
fashion. The third formulation expresses free energy as com- beliefs, which are necessary for inference, are formed27.
Analysis by synthesis plexity minus accuracy, using terms from the model However, this criticism dissolves with hierarchical
Any strategy (in speech coding) comparison literature. Complexity is the difference generative models, in which the priors themselves are
26,28
in which the parameters of a between the recognition density and the prior density optimized . In hierarchical models, causes in one
15
signal coder are evaluated by on causes; it is also known as Bayesian surprise and is the level generate subordinate causes in a lower level; sen-
decoding (synthesizing) the difference between the prior density — which encodes sory data per se are generated at the lowest level (BOX 2).
signal and comparing it with beliefs about the state of the world before sensory data are Minimizing the free energy effectively optimizes empiri-
the original input signal. assimilated — and posterior beliefs, which are encoded cal priors (that is, the probability of causes at one level,
Epistemological automata by the recognition density. Accuracy is simply the sur- given those in the level above). Crucially, because empir-
Possibly the first theory for why prise about sensations that are expected under the recog- ical priors are linked hierarchically, they are informed
top-down influences (mediated nition density. This formulation shows that minimizing by sensory data, enabling the brain to optimize its prior
by backward connections in free energy by changing sensory data (without changing expectations online. This optimization makes every level
the brain) might be important the recognition density) must increase the accuracy of in the hierarchy accountable to the others, furnishing an
in perception and cognition. an agent’s predictions. In short, the agent will selectively internally consistent representation of sensory causes at
Empirical prior sample the sensory inputs that it expects. This is known multiple levels of description. Not only do hierarchical
A prior induced by hierarchical 16
models; empirical priors as active inference . An intuitive example of this process models have a key role in statistics (for example, ran-
(when it is raised into consciousness) would be feeling dom effects and parametric empirical Bayes models30,31),
provide constraints on the our way in darkness: we anticipate what we might touch they may also be used by the brain, given the hierarchical
recognition density in the usual
32–34
way but depend on the data. next and then try to confirm those expectations. arrangement of cortical sensory areas .
NATuRE REvIEWs | NeuroscieNce voluME 11 | FEBRuARy 2010 | 129
© 2010 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved
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The second issue is the form of the recognition den-
Box 2 | Hierarchical message passing in the brain sity that is encoded by physical attributes of the brain,
(i) (i) (i) (i)((i – 1) i) such as synaptic activity, efficacy and gain. In general,
ξ = Π ε =Π (μ – g(μ ))
v v v v v any density is encoded by its sufficient statistics (for exam-
(i) (i) (i) (i)((i ) i)
ξ = Π ε =Π (Dμ – f(μ ))
x x x x x ple, the mean and variance of a Gaussian form). The way
the brain encodes these statistics places important con-
(3) straints on the sorts of schemes that underlie recognition:
Sensory (1) ξ
v
input ξv (2) (2) they range from free-form schemes (for example, particle
ξ
v ξ
x Backward:
(1) 26 35–38
filtering and probabilistic population codes ),
Forward: ξx predictions
prediction which use a vast number of sufficient statistics, to sim-
error (2) pler forms, which make stronger assumptions about
μ
~ v the shape of the recognition density, so that it can be
s(t) (1)
μ (2)
v
μ encoded with a small number of sufficient statistics. The
x
(1)
μ simplest assumed form is Gaussian, which requires only
x
the conditional mean or expectation — this is known
39
Lower cortical areas Higher cortical areas as the Laplace assumption , under which the free energy
(i) (i)((i) (i) i + 1)
T
˙μ = Dμ − (∂ ε ) ξξ− is just the difference between the model’s predictions
Synaptic plasticity v v v v Synaptic gain
T (i) (i)((i) i) T
T and the sensations or representations that are predicted.
�μ = −∂ ε ξ�μ = ½tr(∂Π(ξξ − Π(μ)))
θ θ ˙μ = Dμ − (∂ ε ) ξ γ γ γ
ij ij x x x i i Minimizing free energy then corresponds to explaining
The figure details a neuronal architecture that optimizes the conditional expectations of away prediction errors. This is known as predictive coding
causes in hierarchical models of sensory input. It shows the putative cells of origin of forward and has become a popular framework for understand-
Nature Reviews | Neuroscience
driving connections that convey prediction error (grey arrows) from a lower area (for ing neuronal message passing among different levels of
example, the lateral geniculate nucleus) to a higher area (for example, V1), and nonlinear 40
cortical hierarchies . In this scheme, prediction error
backward connections (black arrows) that construct predictions41. These predictions try to units compare conditional expectations with top-down
explain away prediction error in lower levels. In this scheme, the sources of forward and predictions to elaborate a prediction error. This predic-
backward connections are superficial and deep pyramidal cells (upper and lower triangles), tion error is passed forward to drive the units in the
respectively, where state units are black and error units are grey. The equations represent a level above that encode conditional expectations which
gradient descent on free energy using the generative model below. The two upper equations optimize top-down predictions to explain away (reduce)
describe the formation of prediction error encoded by error units, and the two lower
equations represent recognition dynamics, using a gradient descent on free energy. prediction error in the level below. Here, explaining
Generative models in the brain away just means countering excitatory bottom-up
To evaluate free energy one needs a generative model of how the sensorium is caused. inputs to a prediction error neuron with inhibitory syn-
Such models p(s˜ ,ϑ) = p(s˜ | ϑ) p(ϑ) combine the likelihood p(s˜ | ϑ) of getting some data given aptic inputs that are driven by top-down predictions
their causes and the prior beliefs about these causes, p(ϑ). The brain has to explain (see BOX 2 and REFS 41,42 for detailed discussion). The
complicated dynamics on continuous states with hierarchical or deep causal structure reciprocal exchange of bottom-up prediction errors and
and may use models with the following form top-down predictions proceeds until prediction error
is minimized at all levels and conditional expectations




Ks
K
K
K
K
U I
Z X  θ 
\ X  I
Z X  θ 
\ are optimized. This scheme has been invoked to explain
……
· ·
K
K
K
K
K




 Z  H
Z X  θ 
Y 40,43
Z  H
Z X  θ 
Y many features of early visual responses and provides
(i) (i) a plausible account of repetition suppression and mis-
Here, g and f are continuous nonlinear functions of (hidden and causal) states, with 44
Nature Reviews | Neuroscience match responses in electrophysiology . FIGURE 1 pro-
(i) (i) (i)
parameters θ . The random fluctuations z(t) and w(t) play the part of observation
(i) vides an example of perceptual categorization that uses
noise at the sensory level and state noise at higher levels. Causal states v(t) link this scheme.
hierarchical levels, where the output of one level provides input to the next. Hidden
(i) Message passing of this sort is consistent with func-
states x(t) link dynamics over time and endow the model with memory.
Gaussian assumptions about the random fluctuations specify the likelihood 45
tional asymmetries in real cortical hierarchies , where
and Gaussian assumptions about state noise furnish empirical priors in terms of forward connections (which convey prediction errors)
predicted motion. These assumptions are encoded by their precision (or inverse are driving and backwards connections (which model
(i)
variance), П (γ), which are functions of precision parameters γ. the nonlinear generation of sensory input) have both
recognition dynamics and prediction error driving and modulatory characteristics46. This asym-
If we assume that neuronal activity encodes the conditional expectation of states, then metrical message passing is also a characteristic feature
recognition can be formulated as a gradient descent on free energy. Under Gaussian of adaptive resonance theory47,48, which has formal simi-
assumptions, these recognition dynamics can be expressed compactly in terms larities to predictive coding.
(i) (i) (i)
of precision-weighted prediction errors ξ = П (ε) on the causal states and motion of In summary, the theme underlying the Bayesian brain
hidden states. The ensuing equations (see the figure) suggest two neuronal populations and predictive coding is that the brain is an inference
that exchange messages: causal or hidden-state units encoding expected states and engine that is trying to optimize probabilistic representa-
error units encoding prediction error. Under hierarchical models, error units receive tions of what caused its sensory input. This optimization
messages from the state units in the same level and the level above, whereas state units
are driven by error units in the same level and the level below. These provide bottom-up can be finessed using a (variational free-energy) bound
(i)
messages that drive conditional expectations μ towards better predictions, which on surprise. In short, the free-energy principle entails
(i) (i)
explain away prediction error. These top-down predictions correspond to g(μ ) and f(μ ). the Bayesian brain hypothesis and can be implemented
This scheme suggests that the only connections that link levels are forward connections by the many schemes considered in this field. Almost
conveying prediction error to state units and reciprocal backward connections that invariably, these involve some form of message passing
mediate predictions. See REFS 42,130 for details. Figure is modified from REF. 42. or belief propagation among brain areas or units. This
130 | FEBRuARy 2010 | voluME 11 www.nature.com/reviews/neuro
© 2010 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved
REVIEWS
a Perceptual inference allows us to connect the free-energy principle to another
Vocal centre Syrinx Sonogram principled approach to sensory processing, namely
information theory.
The principle of efficient coding
The principle of efficient coding suggests that the brain
optimizes the mutual information (that is, the mutual
predictability) between the sensorium and its internal
v representation, under constraints on the efficiency of
v = 1
v
2 those representations. This line of thinking was articu-
49
lated by Barlow in terms of a redundancy reduction
principle (or principle of efficient coding) and formal-
50
ized later in terms of the infomax principle . It has been
18x − 18x applied in machine learning51, leading to methods
2 1
˙x = f(x, v) = v x − 2x x − x 52
1 1 3 1 2 like independent component analysis , and in neuro-
2xx − v x
1 2 2 3 biology, contributing to an understanding of the nature
53–56
of neuronal responses . This principle is extremely
b Perceptual categorization effective in predicting the empirical characteristics of
Song a Song b Song c 53
5,000 classical receptive fields and provides a principled
explanation for sparse coding55 and the segregation of
57
processing streams in visual hierarchies . It has been
4,000 extended to cover dynamics and motion trajectories58,59
and even used to infer the metabolic constraints on neu-
3,000 60
equency (Hz) ronal processing .
Fr At its simplest, the infomax principle says that
2,000 neuronal activity should encode sensory information in
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 an efficient and parsimonious fashion. It considers the
Time (s)
c mapping between one set of variables (sensory states)
50 3.5 and another (variables representing those states). At
c first glance, this seems to preclude a probabilistic repre-
40 µv1
a 3 sentation, because this would involve mapping between
30 b sensory states and a probability density. However, the
auses b 2.5 a
c 20 c infomax principle can be applied to the sufficient sta-
v
ted 2 tistics of a recognition density. In this context, the info-
10 2 max principle becomes a special case of the free-energy
Estima0 µ 1 principle, which arises when we ignore uncertainty
v 1.5 in probabilistic representations (and when there is no
–10
–20 1 action); see supplementary information s3 (box) for
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 10 15 20 25 30 35 mathematical details). This is easy to see by noting that
Time (s) v1 sensory signals are generated by causes. This means that it
Figure 1 | Birdsongs and perceptual categorization. a | The generative model of is sufficient to represent the causes to predict these
birdsong used in this simulation comprises a Lorenz attractor with two control parameters signals. More formally, the infomax principle can be
Nature Reviews | Neuroscience
(or causal states) (v ,v ), which, in turn, delivers two control parameters (not shown) to a understood in terms of the decomposition of free energy
1 2
synthetic syrinx to produce ‘chirps’ that were modulated in amplitude and frequency (an into complexity and accuracy: mutual information is
example is shown as a sonogram). The chirps were then presented as a stimulus to a optimized when conditional expectations maximize
synthetic bird to see whether it could infer the underlying causal states and thereby accuracy (or minimize prediction error), and efficiency
categorize the song. This entails minimizing free energy by changing the internal is assured by minimizing complexity. This ensures that
representation (μ ,μ ) of the control parameters. Examples of this perceptual inference or
v1 v2 no excessive parameters are applied in the generative
categorization are shown below. b | Three simulated songs are shown in sonogram format. model and leads to a parsimonious representation of
Each comprises a series of chirps, the frequency and number of which fall progressively
from song a to song c, as a causal state (known as the Raleigh number; v in part a) is sensory data that conforms to prior constraints on their
1
decreased. c | The graph on the left depicts the conditional expectations (μ ,μ ) of the causes. Interestingly, advanced model-optimization
v1 v2
causal states, shown as a function of peristimulus time for the three songs. It shows that techniques use free-energy optimization to eliminate
the causes are identified after around 600 ms with high conditional precision (90% 61
confidence intervals are shown in grey). The graph on the right shows the conditional redundant model parameters , suggesting that free-
density on the causes shortly before the end of the peristimulus time (that is, the dotted energy optimization might provide a nice explanation
line in the left panel). The blue dots correspond to conditional expectations and the grey for the synaptic pruning and homeostasis that take place
62 63
areas correspond to the 90% conditional confidence regions. Note that these encompass in the brain during neurodevelopment and sleep .
the true values (red dots) of (v ,v ) that were used to generate the songs. These results The infomax principle pertains to a forward mapping
1 2 from sensory input to representations. How does this
illustrate the nature of perceptual categorization under the inference scheme in BOX 2:
here, recognition corresponds to mapping from a continuously changing and chaotic square with optimizing generative models, which map
sensory input to a fixed point in perceptual space. Figure is reproduced, with permission, from causes to sensory inputs? These perspectives can be
from REF. 130 © (2009) Elsevier. reconciled by noting that all recognition schemes based
NATuRE REvIEWs | NeuroscieNce voluME 11 | FEBRuARy 2010 | 131
© 2010 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved
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on infomax can be cast as optimizing the parameters of a by synaptic efficacy (these are μ in BOX 2) have to be
64 θ
generative model . For example, in sparse coding mod- optimized. This corresponds to optimizing connection
55
els , the implicit priors posit independent causes that strengths in the brain — that is, plasticity that under-
are sampled from a heavy-tailed or sparse distribution42. lines learning. so what form would this learning take? It
The fact that these models predict empirically observed transpires that a gradient descent on free energy (that is,
receptive fields so well suggests that we are endowed changing connections to reduce free energy) is formally
with (or acquire) prior expectations that the causes of identical to Hebbian plasticity28,42 (BOX 2). This is because
our sensations are largely independent and sparse. the parameters of the generative model determine how
In summary, the principle of efficient coding says expected states (synaptic activity) are mixed to form pre-
that the brain should optimize the mutual information dictions. Put simply, when the presynaptic predictions
between its sensory signals and some parsimonious and postsynaptic prediction errors are highly correlated,
neuronal representations. This is the same as optimizing the connection strength increases, so that predictions
the parameters of a generative model to maximize the can suppress prediction errors more efficiently.
accuracy of predictions, under complexity constraints. In short, the formation of cell assemblies reflects the
Both are mandated by the free-energy principle, which encoding of causal regularities. This is just a restate-
can be regarded as a probabilistic generalization of the ment of cell assembly theory in the context of a specific
Sufficient statistics infomax principle. We now turn to more biologically implementation (predictive coding) of the free-energy
Quantities that are sufficient to inspired ideas about brain function that focus on neu- principle. It should be acknowledged that the learning
parameterize a probability ronal dynamics and plasticity. This takes us deeper into rule in predictive coding is really a delta rule, which
density (for example, mean and neurobiological mechanisms and the implementation of rests on Hebbian mechanisms; however, Hebb’s wider
covariance of a Gaussian the theoretical principles outlined above. notions of cell assemblies were formulated from a non-
density). statistical perspective. Modern reformulations suggest
Laplace assumption The cell assembly and correlation theory that both inference on states (that is, perception) and
65
(Or Laplace approximation or The cell assembly theory was proposed by Hebb and inference on parameters (that is, learning) minimize
method.) A saddle-point entails Hebbian — or associative — plasticity, which is a free energy (that is, minimize prediction error) and
approximation of the integral cornerstone of use-dependent or experience-dependent serve to bound surprising exchanges with the world. so
of an exponential function, that plasticity66, the correlation theory of von de Malsburg67,68 what about synchronization and the selective enabling
uses a second-order Taylor and other formal refinements to Hebbian plasticity of synapses?
expansion. When the function
69
is a probability density, the per se . The cell assembly theory posits that groups of
implicit assumption is that interconnected neurons are formed through a strength- Biased competition and attention
the density is approximately ening of synaptic connections that depends on corre- Causal regularities encoded by synaptic efficacy
Gaussian. lated pre- and postsynaptic activity; that is, ‘cells that fire control the deterministic evolution of states in the world.
Predictive coding together wire together’. This enables the brain to distil However, stochastic (that is, random) fluctuations in
A tool used in signal processing statistical regularities from the sensorium. The correla- these states play an important part in generating sen-
for representing a signal using tion theory considers the selective enabling of synaptic sory data. Their amplitude is usually represented as pre-
a linear predictive (generative) efficacy and its plasticity (also known as metaplastic- cision (or inverse variance), which encodes the reliability
model. It is a powerful speech 70
analysis technique and was ity ) by fast synchronous activity induced by different of prediction errors. Precision is important, especially
first considered in vision to perceptual attributes of the same object (for example, a in hierarchical schemes, because it controls the relative
explain lateral interactions in red bus in motion). This resolves a putative deficiency influence of bottom-up prediction errors and top-down
the retina. of classical plasticity, which cannot ascribe a presynaptic predictions. so how is precision encoded in the brain?
Infomax input to a particular cause (for example, redness) in the In predictive coding, precision modulates the amplitude
An optimization principle for world67. The correlation theory underpins theoretical of prediction errors (these are μ in BOX 2), so that pre-
γ
neural networks (or functions) treatments of synchronized brain activity and its role in diction errors with high precision have a greater impact
that map inputs to outputs. It associating or binding attributes to specific objects or on units that encode conditional expectations. This
says that the mapping should causes68,71. Another important field that rests on associa- means that precision corresponds to the synaptic gain of
maximize the Shannon mutual tive plasticity is the use of attractor networks as models prediction error units. The most obvious candidates for
information between the inputs
72–74
and outputs, subject to of memory formation and retrieval . so how do corre- controlling gain (and implicitly encoding precision) are
constraints and/or noise lations and associative plasticity figure in the free-energy classical neuromodulators like dopamine and acetylcho-
processes. formulation? line, which provides a nice link to theories of attention
75–77
Stochastic Hitherto, we have considered only inference on states and uncertainty . Another candidate is fast synchro-
Governed by random effects. of the world that cause sensory signals, whereby condi- nized presynaptic input that lowers effective postsynaptic
tional expectations about states are encoded by synaptic membrane time constants and increases synchronous
Biased competition 78
activity. However, the causes covered by the recognition gain . This fits comfortably with the correlation theory
An attentional effect mediated density are not restricted to time-varying states (for and speaks to recent ideas about the role of synchronous
by competitive interactions 79,80
among neurons representing example, the motion of an object in the visual field): activity in mediating attentional gain .
visual stimuli; these they also include time-invariant regularities that endow In summary, the optimization of expected precision
interactions can be biased in the world with causal structure (for example, objects in terms of synaptic gain links attention to synaptic gain
favour of behaviourally relevant fall with constant acceleration). These regularities are and synchronization. This link is central to theories of
stimuli by both spatial and parameters of the generative model and have to be attentional gain and biased competition80–85, particularly
non-spatial and both 86,87
bottom-up and top-down inferred by the brain — in other words, the conditional in the context of neuromodulation . The theories
processes. expectations of these parameters that may be encoded considered so far have dealt only with perception.
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However, from the point of view of the free-energy value or surprise is determined by the form of an agent’s
principle, perception just makes free energy a good generative model and its implicit priors — these specify
proxy for surprise. To actually reduce surprise we need the value of sensory states and, crucially, are heritable
to act. In the next section, we retain a focus on cell through genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. This means
assemblies but move to the selection and reinforcement that prior expectations (that is, the primary repertoire)
of stimulus–response links. can prescribe a small number of attractive states with
innate value. In turn, this enables natural selection to
Neural Darwinism and value learning optimize prior expectations and ensure they are con-
In the theory of neuronal group selection88, the emergence sistent with the agent’s phenotype. Put simply, valuable
of neuronal assemblies is considered in the light of selec- states are just the states that the agent expects to fre-
tive pressure. The theory has four elements: epigenetic quent. These expectations are constrained by the form of
mechanisms create a primary repertoire of neuronal its generative model, which is specified genetically and
connections, which are refined by experience-dependent fulfilled behaviourally, under active inference.
plasticity to produce a secondary repertoire of neuro- It is important to appreciate that prior expectations
nal groups. These are selected and maintained through include not just what will be sampled from the world but
reentrant signalling among neuronal groups. As in cell also how the world is sampled. This means that natural
assembly theory, plasticity rests on correlated pre- and selection may equip agents with the prior expectation
postsynaptic activity, but here it is modulated by value. that they will explore their environment until states
value is signalled by ascending neuromodulatory trans- with innate value are encountered. We will look at this
mitter systems and controls which neuronal groups more closely in the next section, where priors on motion
are selected and which are not. The beauty of neural through state space are cast in terms of policies in
Darwinism is that it nests distinct selective processes reinforcement learning.
within each other. In other words, it eschews a single unit Both neural Darwinism and the free-energy principle
of selection and exploits the notion of meta-selection try to understand somatic changes in an individual in
(the selection of selective mechanisms; for example, see the context of evolution: neural Darwinism appeals to
REF. 89). In this context, (neuronal) value confers evolu- selective processes, whereas the free energy formulation
tionary value (that is, adaptive fitness) by selecting neu- considers the optimization of ensemble or population
ronal groups that meditate adaptive stimulus–stimulus dynamics in terms of entropy and surprise. The key
associations and stimulus–response links. The capacity theme that emerges here is that (heritable) prior expecta-
of value to do this is assured by natural selection, in the tions can label things as innately valuable (unsurprising);
sense that neuronal value systems are themselves subject but how can simply labelling states engender adaptive
to selective pressure. behaviour? In the next section, we return to reinforce-
90
This theory, particularly value-dependent learning , ment learning and related formulations of action that try
has deep connections with reinforcement learning and to explain adaptive behaviour purely in terms of labels
Reentrant signalling related approaches in engineering (see below), such as or cost functions.
Reciprocal message passing dynamic programming and temporal difference mod-
91,92
among neuronal groups. els . This is because neuronal value systems reinforce Optimal control theory and game theory
connections to themselves, thereby enabling the brain value is central to theories of brain function that are
Reinforcement learning to label a sensory state as valuable if, and only if, it leads to based on reinforcement learning and optimum con-
An area of machine learning another valuable state. This ensures that agents move trol. The basic notion that underpins these treatments
concerned with how an agent through a succession of states that have acquired value to is that the brain optimizes value, which is expected
maximizes long-term reward. access states (rewards) with genetically specified innate reward or utility (or its complement — expected loss
Reinforcement learning
algorithms attempt to find a value. In short, the brain maximizes value, which may be or cost). This is seen in behavioural psychology as rein-
policy that maps states of the 98
reflected in the discharge of value systems (for example, forcement learning , in computational neuroscience
world to actions performed by dopaminergic systems92–96). so how does this relate to and machine learning as variants of dynamic program-
the agent. the optimization of free energy? ming such as temporal difference learning99–101, and in
Optimal control theory The answer is simple: value is inversely proportional economics as expected utility theory102. The notion of
An optimization method to surprise, in the sense that the probability of a pheno- an expected reward or cost is crucial here; this is the
(based on the calculus of type being in a particular state increases with the value cost expected over future states, given a particular policy
variations) for deriving an of that state. Furthermore, the evolutionary value of that prescribes action or choices. A policy specifies the
optimal control law in a a phenotype is the negative surprise averaged over all states to which an agent will move from any given state
dynamical system. A control
problem includes a cost the states it experiences, which is simply its negative (‘motion through state space in continuous time’). This
function that is a function of entropy. Indeed, the whole point of minimizing free policy has to access sparse rewarding states using a cost
state and control variables. energy (and implicitly entropy) is to ensure that agents function, which only labels states as costly or not. The
Bellman equation spend most of their time in a small number of valuable problem of how the policy is optimized is formalized
(Or dynamic programming states. This means that free energy is the complement of in optimal control theory as the Bellman equation and its
equation.) Named after value, and its long-term average is the complement of variants99 (see supplementary information s4 (box)),
Richard Bellman, it is a adaptive fitness (also known as free fitness in evolution- which express value as a function of the optimal policy
necessary condition for ary biology97). But how do agents know what is valu- and a cost function. If one can solve the Bellman equa-
optimality associated with able? In other words, how does one generation tell the tion, one can associate each sensory state with a value
dynamic programming in
optimal control theory. next which states have value (that is, are unsurprising)? and optimize the policy by ensuring that the next state
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Optimal decision theory is the most valuable of the available states. In general, because it explains why agents must minimize expected
(Or game theory.) An area of it is impossible to solve the Bellman equation exactly, cost. Furthermore, free energy provides a quantitative
applied mathematics but several approximations exist, ranging from simple and seamless connection between the cost functions
concerned with identifying the 98
values, uncertainties and other Rescorla–Wagner models to more comprehensive for- of reinforcement learning and value in evolutionary
100
constraints that determine an mulations like Q-learning . Cost also has a key role in biology. Finally, the dynamical perspective provides a
optimal decision. Bayesian decision theory, in which optimal decisions mechanistic insight into how policies are specified in the
99
minimize expected cost in the context of uncertainty brain: according to the principle of optimality cost is the
Gradient ascent about outcomes; this is central to optimal decision theory rate of change of value (see supplementary information
(Or method of steepest 102–104
ascent.) A first-order (game theory) and behavioural economics . s4 (box)), which depends on changes in sensory states.
optimization scheme that finds so what does free energy bring to the table? If one This suggests that optimal policies can be prescribed by
a maximum of a function by assumes that the optimal policy performs a gradient prior expectations about the motion of sensory states.
changing its arguments in ascent on value, then it is easy to show that value is Put simply, priors induce a fixed-point attractor, and
proportion to the gradient of inversely proportional to surprise (see supplementary when the states arrive at the fixed point, value will stop
the function at the current information s4 (box)). This means that free energy is changing and cost will be minimized. A simple exam-
value. In short, a hill-climbing (an upper bound on) expected cost, which makes sense ple is shown in FIG. 2, in which a cued arm movement
scheme. The opposite scheme
is a gradient descent. as optimal control theory assumes that action mini- is simulated using only prior expectations that the arm
mizes expected cost, whereas the free-energy principle will be drawn to a fixed point (the target). This figure
states that it minimizes free energy. This is important illustrates how computational motor control105–109 can
be formulated in terms of priors and the suppression of
sensory prediction errors (K.J.F., J. Daunizeau, J. Kilner
Predictions and s.J. Kiebel, unpublished observations). More gener-
(2)
ξ ally, it shows how rewards and goals can be considered
(1) v Prediction errors
16
ξx as prior expectations that an action is obliged to fulfil
(1) (see also REF. 110). It also suggests how natural selection
μ
v
(1) (1) could optimize behaviour through the genetic specifi-
μ
ξ x
v cation of inheritable or innate priors that constrain the
Movement learning of empirical priors (BOX 2) and subsequent goal-
V trajectory directed action.
s =+ w
visual J visual It should be noted that just expecting to be attracted
(0, 0) to some states may not be sufficient to attain those states.
Motor
signals x This is because one may have to approach attractors vicar-
1
x iously through other states (for example, to avoid obsta-
s 1 J cles) or conform to physical constraints on action. These
=+ w 1
prop x prop
2 V = (v, v , v ) are some of the more difficult problems of accessing
(1) 1 2 3
ξv J distal rewards that reinforcement learning and opti-
x2 2 mum control contend with. In these circumstances,
a Action an examination of the density dynamics, on which the
J = J + J = ( j , j )
˙a = −∂ εTξ Jointed arm 1 2 1 2
a free-energy principle is based, suggests that it is sufficient
Figure 2 | A demonstration of cued reaching movements. The lower right part of the to keep moving until an a priori attractor is encountered
figure shows a motor plant, comprising a two-jointed arm with two hidden states, each of (see supplementary information s5 (box)). This entails
which corresponds to a particular angular position of the two joints; the current position destroying unexpected (costly) fixed points in the envi-
Nature Reviews | Neuroscience
of the finger (red circle) is the sum of the vectors describing the location of each joint. ronment by making them unstable (like shifting to a new
Here, causal states in the world are the position and brightness of the target (green position when sitting uncomfortably). Mathematically,
circle). The arm obeys Newtonian mechanics, specified in terms of angular inertia and this means adopting a policy that ensures a positive
friction. The left part of the figure illustrates that the brain senses hidden states directly divergence in costly states (intuitively, this is like being
in terms of proprioceptive input (S ) that signals the angular positions (x ,x ) of the
prop 1 2 pushed through a liquid with negative viscosity or
joints and indirectly through seeing the location of the finger in space (J ,J ). In addition,
1 2 friction). see FIG. 3 for a solution to the classical
through visual input (S ) the agent senses the target location (v ,v ) and brightness (v ).
visual 1 2 3 mountain car problem using a simple prior that induces
Sensory prediction errors are passed to higher brain levels to optimize the conditional this sort of policy. This prior is on motion through state
expectations of hidden states (that is, the angular position of the joints) and causal (that
is, target) states. The ensuing predictions are sent back to suppress sensory prediction space (that is, changes in states) and enforces exploration
errors. At the same time, sensory prediction errors are also trying to suppress themselves until an attractive state is found. Priors of this sort may
by changing sensory input through action. The grey and black lines denote reciprocal provide a principled way to understand the exploration–
message passing among neuronal populations that encode prediction error and 111–113
exploitation trade-off and related issues in evolu-
conditional expectations; this architecture is the same as that depicted in BOX 2. The 114
blue lines represent descending motor control signals from sensory prediction-error tionary biology . The implicit use of priors to induce
units. The agent’s generative model included priors on the motion of hidden states that dynamical instability also provides a key connection
effectively engage an invisible elastic band between the finger and target (when the to dynamical systems theory approaches to the brain
target is illuminated). This induces a prior expectation that the finger will be drawn to that emphasize the importance of itinerant dynamics,
the target, when cued appropriately. The insert shows the ensuing movement trajectory metastability, self-organized criticality and winner-
caused by action. The red circles indicate the initial and final positions of the finger, less competition115–123. These dynamical phenomena
which reaches the target (green circle) quickly and smoothly; the blue line is the have a key role in synergetic and autopoietic accounts of
simulated trajectory. adaptive behaviour5,124,125.
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ab
The mountain car problem Loss functions (priors) Conditional expectations
0.7 5 30
0.6 0 25 −c(t)
0.5 –5 es20
t
a
0.4 e–10 c(x) 15
c
or–15 ted st
Height0.3 ϕ(x) F 10
0.2 –20 Estima 5
x
μ(t)
0.1 –25 0
0 –30 –5
-2 -1 0 12 –2 –1 012 0 20 40 60 80 100120
Position (x) Position (x) Time (seconds)
Principle of optimality
An optimal policy has Equations of motion Trajectories Action
the property that whatever the
initial state and initial decision, ˙x x′ 2 3
the remaining decisions must f == 1 x′
˙x′ −∇ϕ − ⁄8 x′ + σ(a) 2
constitute an optimal policy x
with regard to the state 1 l a(t)
resulting from the first decision. 1
Exploration–exploitation 0 ol signa0
elocity
trade-off V ontr
Involves a balance between C–1
exploration (of uncharted –1
–2
territory) and exploitation (of
current knowledge). In –2 –3
reinforcement learning, it has –2 –1 012 0 20 40 60 80 100120
been studied mainly through Position (x) Time (seconds)
the multi-armed bandit
problem. Figure 3 | solving the mountain car problem with prior expectations. a | How paradoxical but adaptive behaviour (for
Nature Reviews | Neuroscience
example, moving away from a target to ensure that it is secured later) emerges from simple priors on the motion of hidden
Dynamical systems theory states in the world. Shown is the landscape or potential energy function (with a minimum at position x = –0.5) that exerts
An area of applied forces on a mountain car. The car is shown at the target position on the hill at x =1, indicated by the red circle. The equations
mathematics that describes of motion of the car are shown below the plot. Crucially, at x = 0 the force on the car cannot be overcome by the agent,
the behaviour of complex because a squashing function –1≤σ≤1 is applied to action to prevent it being greater than 1. This means that the agent can
(possibly chaotic) dynamical access the target only by starting halfway up the left hill to gain enough momentum to carry it up the other side. b | The
systems as described by results of active inference under priors that destabilize fixed points outside the target domain. The priors are encoded in a
differential or difference cost function c(x) (top left), which acts like negative friction. When ‘friction’ is negative the car expects to go faster (see
equations.
Supplementary information S5 (box) for details). The inferred hidden states (upper right: position in blue, velocity in green
Synergetics and negative dissipation in red) show that the car explores its landscape until it encounters the target, and that friction then
Concerns the self-organization increases (that is, cost decreases) dramatically to prevent the car from escaping the target (by falling down the hill). The
of patterns and structures in ensuing trajectory is shown in blue (bottom left). The paler lines provide exemplar trajectories from other trials, with
open systems far from different starting positions. In the real world, friction is constant. However, the car ‘expects’ friction to change as it changes
thermodynamic equilibrium. It position, thus enforcing exploration or exploitation. These expectations are fulfilled by action (lower right).
rests on the order parameter
concept, which was generalized
by Haken to the enslaving
principle: that is, the dynamics In summary, optimal control and decision (game) Conclusions and future directions
of fast-relaxing (stable) modes theory start with the notion of cost or utility and try to Although contrived to highlight commonalities, this
are completely determined by
the ‘slow’ dynamics of order construct value functions of states, which subsequently Review suggests that many global theories of brain
parameters (the amplitudes of guide action. The free-energy formulation starts with function can be united under a Helmholtzian percep-
unstable modes). a free-energy bound on the value of states, which is tive of the brain as a generative model of the world it
18,20,21,25
Autopoietic specified by priors on the motion of hidden environ- inhabits (FIG. 4); notable examples include the
Referring to the fundamental mental states. These priors can incorporate any cost integration of the Bayesian brain and computational
dialectic between structure function to ensure that costly states are avoided. states motor control theory, the objective functions shared
and function. with minimum cost can be set (by learning or evolu- by predictive coding and the infomax principle,
Helmholtzian tion) in terms of prior expectations about motion and hierarchical inference and theories of attention, the
Refers to a device or scheme the attractors that ensue. In this view, the problem of embedding of perception in natural selection and
that uses a generative model to finding sparse rewards in the environment is nature’s the link between optimum control and more exotic
furnish a recognition density solution to the problem of how to minimize the entropy phenomena in dynamical systems theory. The constant
and learns hidden structures in (average surprise or free energy) of an agent’s states: by theme in all these theories is that the brain optimizes
data by optimizing the ensuring they occupy a small set of attracting (that is, a (free-energy) bound on surprise or its complement,
parameters of generative
models. rewarding) states. value. This manifests as perception (so as to change
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REVIEWS
Attention and biased competition Computational motor control
μ = arg min dtF T
γ ∫ ˙a = −∂aε ξ
Optimization of synaptic gain Minimization of sensory
representing the precision prediction errors
(salience) of predictions
Predictive coding and hierarchical inference
(i) (i)((i) i) (i + 1)
= Dμ − ∂ ε Tξ − ξ
˙μ
Associative plasticity v v v v
�μ = −∂ εTξ Minimization of prediction error Optimal control and value learning
θij θij with recurrent message passing
~
Optimization of synaptic efficacy a, μ = arg max V (s | m)
The Bayesian brain hypothesis Optimization of a free-energy
μ = arg min D ~ bound on surprise or value
Perceptual learning and memory (q(ϑ) || (p(ϑ | s))
KL
= arg min dtF Minimizing the difference between a
μ
θ ∫ recognition density and the conditional
Optimization of synaptic efficacy density on sensory causes
to represent causal structure
in the sensorium
The free-energy principle Infomax and the redundancy
~
a, μ, m = arg min F (s,
Probabilistic neuronal coding μ | m) minimization principle
Minimization of the free energy of ~ μ ) − H(μ)}
q(ϑ ) = N ( μ, Σ) sensations and the representation μ = arg max {I (s,
Encoding a recognition density of their causes Maximization of the mutual
in terms of conditional information between sensations
expectations and uncertainty Model selection and evolution and representations
m = arg min dtF
∫
Optimizing the agent’s model and
priors through neurodevelopment
and natural selection
Figure 4 | The free-energy principle and other theories. Some of the theoretical constructs considered in this Review
Nature Reviews | Neuroscience
and how they relate to the free-energy principle (centre). The variables are described in BOXES 1,2 and a full explanation
of the equations can be found in the Supplementary information S1–S4 (boxes).
predictions) or action (so as to change the sensations to old problems that might call for a reappraisal of
that are predicted). Crucially, these predictions depend conventional notions, particularly in reinforcement
on prior expectations (that furnish policies), which learning and motor control.
are optimized at different (somatic and evolutionary) If the arguments underlying the free-energy principle
timescales and define what is valuable. hold, then the real challenge is to understand how it
What does the free-energy principle portend for the manifests in the brain. This speaks to a greater appre-
41
future? If its main contribution is to integrate estab- ciation of hierarchical message passing , the func-
lished theories, then the answer is probably ‘not a lot’. tional role of specific neurons and microcircuits and
Conversely, it may provide a framework in which cur- the dynamics they support (for example, what is the
rent debates could be resolved, for example whether relationship between predictive coding, attention
129
dopamine encodes reward prediction error or sur- and dynamic co ordination in the brain? ). Beyond
prise126,127 — this is particularly important for under- neuroscience, many exciting applications in engineering,
standing conditions like addiction, Parkinson’s disease robotics, embodied cognition and evolutionary biology
and schizophrenia. Indeed, the free-energy formulation suggest themselves; although fanciful, it is not difficult to
has already been used to explain the positive symptoms imagine building little free-energy machines that garner
128
of schizophrenia in terms of false inference . The free- and model sensory information (like our children) to
energy formulation could also provide new approaches maximize the evidence for their own existence.
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104. Nash, J. Equilibrium points in n-person games. systems. See online article: S1 (box) | S2 (box) | S3 (box) | S4 (box) |
Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 36, 48–49 (1950). 118. Breakspear, M. & Stam, C. J. Dynamics of a S5 (box)
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Supplementary information S1 (box): The entropy of sensory states and their causes
This box shows that the entropy of hidden states in the environment is bounded by the
entropy of sensory states. This means that if the entropy of sensory signals is minimised, so
is the entropy of the environmental states that caused them. For any agent or model m the
entropy of generalised sensory states % ′ ′′ T is simply their average surprise
s(t) =[s,s ,s ,K]
%
−ln p(s |m) (with a sight abuse of notion)
T
% % % % % S1.1
H(s|m):=∫−p(s|m)ln p(s|m)ds = lim∫−ln p(s(t)|m)dt
T→•
0
Under ergodic assumptions, this is just the long-term time or path-integral of surprise. We will
assume sensory states are an analytic function of hidden environmental states plus some
generalised random fluctuations
% % %
s = g(x,θ)+ z
& S1.2
% % %
x = f (x,θ)+w
Here, hidden states change according to the stochastic differential equations of motion (with
% %
parameters θ ) in S1.2. Because x and z are statistically independent, we have (see Eq.
6.4.6 in Jones 1979, p149)
% % % % % %
I(s,z) = H(s |m)−H(x|m)− p(x|m)ln|∂%g|dx S1.3
∫ x
% %
Here, I(s,z) ≥ 0 is the mutual information between the sensory states and noise. By Gibb’s
inequality this cross-entropy or Kullback-Leibler divergence is non-negative (Theorem 6.5;
Jones 1979, p151). This means the entropy of the sensory states is greater than the entropy
of the sensory mapping. Here. ∂%g is the sensitivity or gradient of the sensory mapping with
x
respect to the hidden states. The integral in S1.3 reflects the fact that entropy is not invariant
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% %
to a change of variables and assumes that the sensory mapping g : x → s is diffeomorphic
(i.e., bijective and smooth). This requires the hidden and sensory state-spaces to have the
same dimension, which can be assured by truncating generalised states at an appropriately
high order. For example, if we had n hidden states in m generalised coordinates of motion,
we would consider m sensory states in n generalised coordinates; so that
% %
dim(x)=dim(s)=n×m. Finally, rearranging S1.3 gives
% % % %
H(x|m)≤H(s|m)− p(x|m)ln|∂%g|dx S1.4
∫ x
In conclusion, the entropy of hidden states is upper-bounded by the entropy of sensations,
assuming their sensitivity to hidden states is constant, over the range of states encountered.
Clearly, the ergodic assumption in S1.1 only holds over certain temporal scales for real
organisms that are on a trajectory from birth to death. This scale can be somatic (e.g., over
days or months, where development is locally stationary) or evolutionary (e.g., over
generations, where evolution is locally stationary).
Reference
Jones, DS. (1979). Elementary information theory. Publisher: Oxford: Clarendon Press; New
York: Oxford University Press
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Supplementary information S2 (box): Variational free energy
Here, we derive the free-energy and show how its various formulations relate to each other.
We start with the quantity we want to bound; namely, the surprise or log-evidence associated
% %
with sensory states s(t) that have been caused by some unknown quantities ϑ …{x,θ} ,
which include the hidden states and parameters in box (S1)
% %
−ln p(s(t)) = −ln∫ p(s(t),ϑ)dϑ S2.1
%
To create a free-energy bound on surprise F (s(t),q(ϑ)), we simply add a non-negative
cross-entropy between an arbitrary (recognition) density on the causes q(ϑ) and their
%
posterior density p(ϑ | s) (dropping the dependency on m for clarity).
q(ϑ) %
F =∫q(ϑ)ln dϑ−ln p(s)
%
p(ϑ|s)
S2.2
% %
=D(q(ϑ)|| p(ϑ|s))−ln p(s)
The cross-entropy term is non-negative by Gibb’s inequality. In short, free-energy is cross-
entropy plus surprise. Because surprise depends only on sensory states, we can bring it
% % %
inside the integral and use p(ϑ,s) = p(ϑ | s)p(s) to show free-energy is expected energy
minus entropy
F =∫q(ϑ)ln q(ϑ) dϑ
% %
p(ϑ|s)p(s)
%
=∫q(ϑ)lnq(ϑ)dϑ−∫q(ϑ)ln p(ϑ,s)dϑ S2.3
%
=− ln p(ϑ,s) − −lnq(ϑ)
q q
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% % %
where −ln p(ϑ,s) is Gibb’s energy. A final rearrangement, using p(ϑ,s) = p(s |ϑ)p(ϑ),
shows free-energy is also complexity minus accuracy, where complexity is the cross-entropy
between the recognition q(ϑ) and prior density p(ϑ)
F =∫q(ϑ)ln q(ϑ) dϑ
%
p(s |ϑ)p(ϑ)
q(ϑ) %
=∫q(ϑ)ln p(ϑ)dϑ−∫q(ϑ)ln p(s|ϑ)dϑ S2.4
%
=D(q(ϑ)|| p(ϑ))− ln p(s|ϑ)
q
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Supplementary information S3 (box): The free-energy principle and infomax
Here, we show that the free-energy principle is a probabilistic generalisation of the infomax
%
principle. The infomax principle requires the mutual information I(s,µ) between sensory
data and their conditional representation µ(t) to be maximal, under prior constraints on the
representations; e.g., p(µ) = N (0,I). This can be stated as an optimisation of an infomax
criterion
µ∗ =argmaxG
µ
S3.1
%
G=I(s,µ)−H(µ)
% %
=H(s)−H(s|µ)−H(µ)
Because the representations do not change sensory data, they are only required to minimise
the average surprise about them, given the representations; and the average surprise about
the representations, given their prior constraints. These are the last two terms in (S3.1). If the
recognition density is a point mass at µ(t); i.e., q(ϑ) =δ(ϑ −µ), the free-energy from
(S2.4) reduces to
%
F =−ln p(s|µ)−ln p(µ) S3.2
From (S1.1), the path-integral of free-energy (also known as free-action) becomes
% %
AF=∫dt (s(t),µ(t))µ H(s|µ)+H(µ) S3.3
This means optimising the conditional expectations with respect to free-energy and (by the
fundamental lemma of variational calculus) free-action, is exactly the same as same as
optimising the infomax criterion
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µ∗ =argminFA=argmin =argmaxG S3.4
µ µ µ
In short, the infomax principle is a special case of the free-energy principle that obtains when
we discount uncertainty and represent sensory data with point estimates of their causes.
Alternatively, the free-energy is a generalisation of the infomax principle that covers
probability densities on the unknown causes of data. In this context, high mutual information
is assured by maximising accuracy (e.g., minimising prediction error) and the prior constraints
are enforced by minimising complexity (see S2.4)
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Supplementary information S4 (box): Value and surprise
Here, we compare and contrast optimal control and free-energy formulations of dynamics on
hidden or sensory states. To keep things simple, we will assume the hidden states are known
%
(as is usually assumed in control theory) and ignore random fluctuations; i.e., w(t) = 0 (see
box S1). In optimum control, one starts with a loss or cost-function (negative reward or utility),
%
c(x) and optimises the motion of states to maximise value or expected reward over time
∗ % %
a =argmax f(x,a)⋅∇V(x)
a
• S4.1
% % & % %
V(x(0)) = ∫−c(x(t))dt ⇒V(x(t)) = c(x)
0
The first equality says that motion ascends the gradients of the value-function and the second
just defines value as reward that will be accumulated in the future. Note the equations of
&
motion % % now include action. The value-function is the solution to the celebrated
x = f (x,a)
Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation
& % %
max V(x(t))−c(x) =0⇒
{ }
a S4.2
% % %
max f(x,a)⋅∇V(x)−c(x) =0
{ }
a
This solution ensures that the rate of change of value is cost, as required by the definition of
value. In summary, (S4.1) says that action maximises value and (S4.2) means that value is
the reward expected under this policy. This ensures low-cost regions attract all trajectories
through state-space.
We now revisit value from the perspective of surprise and free-energy. If we put the random
fluctuations back and assume a general form (the Helmholtz decomposition) for motion:
f =∇V +∇×W , it is fairly easy to relate value and surprise (using the Fokker-Planck
equation, subject to ∇V ⋅(∇×W) = 0)
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% %
V(x)=γ ln p(x|m)
2 S4.3
%
c(x) = f ⋅∇V +γ∇ V
Here, γ > 0 encodes the amplitude of the random fluctuations (and is known as an inverse
sensitivity or temperature parameter). The first equality shows that value is inversely
proportional to surprise, where free-energy is surprise because we know the true states. This
means the value of a state is proportional to the log-probability of finding an agent m in that
state. This is also the log-sojourn time or the proportion of time the state is occupied by that
agent.
In the limit of small fluctuations γ → 0, the ensemble density % −1 %
p(x|m)=exp(γ V(x))
becomes a point mass at the minimum of the cost-function. This somewhat trivial case serves
to connect optimal control theory to the equilibrium treatment that underpins the free-energy
scheme. In this limit, cost is just the rate of change of value: % & % , as
c(x) = f ⋅∇V =V(x(t))
mandated by the definition of value in Equation S4.1, which is the solution to the
(deterministic) Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation (S4.2).
Crucially, Equation S4.3 also shows that peaks of the equilibrium density can only exist where
cost is zero or less
∇V(x)=0
⇒c(x)≤0 S4.4
2
∇V(x)≤0
with c(x) = 0 in the limit γ → 0.
In summary, optimal control theory starts with a cost-function and solves for a value-function
that guides the flow or policy to minimise expected cost. Conversely, the equilibrium
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perspective starts with flow and derives the implicit value and cost-functions, where value is
inversely proportional to surprise. In the last supplementary information box (S5), we show
how cost can define policies, without solving the (generally intractable) Hamilton-Jacobi-
Bellman equation.
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Supplementary information S5 (box): Policies and cost
This box describes a scheme that ensures agents are attracted to locations in state-space,
using prior expectations about the motion of hidden states; % ′ T comprising
x(t) =[x,x ] ∈X
position and velocity. This formulation of how an ensemble density can be restricted to an
attractive subset of state-space A⊂ X rests on the Fokker-Planck description (see Frank
2004) of how the density changes with time
& % 2
p(x|m)=γ∇ p− p∇⋅ f − f ⋅∇p
& %
At equilibrium, p(x | m) = 0 and
γ∇2p− f ⋅∇p
%
p(x|m)= ∇⋅ f S5.1
Notice that as the divergence ∇⋅ f increases, the sojourn time (i.e., the proportion of time a
state is occupied) falls. Crucially, at the peaks of the ensemble density, the gradient is zero
and its curvature is negative, which means the divergence must be negative (from Equation
S5.1)
p>0
∇p=0⇒∇⋅f <0
 S5.2
∇2p<0
This provides a simple and general mechanism to ensure peaks of the ensemble density lie
A⊂X % % %
in, and only in . This is assured if ∇⋅ f (x) < 0 when x∈ A and ∇⋅ f (x) ≥ 0
otherwise. We can exploit this using the generic equations of motion
 x′ 
f = cx′−∂ ϕ ⇒ ∇⋅f =c S5.3
 x 
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This flow describes the Newtonian motion of a unit mass in a potential energy well ϕ(x,θ) ,
where cost plays the role of negative dissipation or friction. Crucially, under this policy or flow,
divergence is simply cost; meaning the associated ensemble density can only have maxima
in regions of negative cost. This provides a means to specify attractive regions A⊂ X by
assigning them negative cost
c(x) ≤ 0: x∈A
c(x) > 0: x∉A S5.4
Put simply, this scheme ensures that agents are expelled from high-cost regions of state-
space and get ‘stuck’ in attractive regions.
In summary, the previous supplementary information box (S4) showed that any flow can be
described in terms of a scalar value-function (and vector potential W ), from which an implicit
cost-function can be derived. In this box (S5), we have addressed the inverse problem of how
cost can be used to constrain flow, ensuring that it leads to attractive, low-cost states. The
ensuing policy or flow can be used in a generative model of flow or state-transitions to provide
predictions that action fulfils, under the free-energy principle. A full discussion of these and
related ideas will be presented in Friston et al (in preparation).
Reference
Frank TD (2004). Nonlinear Fokker-Planck Equations: Fundamentals and Applications.
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