cognitive/knowledge_base/cognitive/free_energy_minimization.md
Daniel Ari Friedman 6caa1a7cb1 Update
2025-02-07 08:16:25 -08:00

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Free Energy Minimization


title: Free Energy Minimization type: concept status: stable tags:


Overview

Free Energy Minimization is the fundamental principle underlying adaptive behavior in biological and artificial systems. It posits that all adaptive systems act to minimize their variational free energy, which measures the discrepancy between their internal models and environmental reality.

Mathematical Framework

Variational Free Energy

F = E_q[\ln q(s) - \ln p(s,o)] = D_{KL}[q(s)||p(s|o)] - \ln p(o)

where:

  • q(s) is the recognition density (internal model)
  • p(s,o) is the generative model
  • D_{KL} is the Kullback-Leibler divergence
  • p(o) is the evidence (marginal likelihood)

Components

Optimization Process

Implementation Mechanisms

Neural Implementation

Behavioral Implementation

Learning Implementation

Applications

Cognitive Science

Artificial Intelligence

Clinical Applications

Theoretical Extensions

Information Theory

Thermodynamics

Complex Systems

Research Directions

Current Challenges

Future Applications

References