{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]],"date-time":"2026-07-24T03:47:12Z","timestamp":1784864832008,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":108,"publisher":"MIT Press - Journals","issue":"1","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Neural Computation"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2017,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:p> This article describes a process theory based on active inference and belief propagation. Starting from the premise that all neuronal processing (and action selection) can be explained by maximizing Bayesian model evidence\u2014or minimizing variational free energy\u2014we ask whether neuronal responses can be described as a gradient descent on variational free energy. Using a standard (Markov decision process) generative model, we derive the neuronal dynamics implicit in this description and reproduce a remarkable range of well-characterized neuronal phenomena. These include repetition suppression, mismatch negativity, violation responses, place-cell activity, phase precession, theta sequences, theta-gamma coupling, evidence accumulation, race-to-bound dynamics, and transfer of dopamine responses. Furthermore, the (approximately Bayes\u2019 optimal) behavior prescribed by these dynamics has a degree of face validity, providing a formal explanation for reward seeking, context learning, and epistemic foraging. Technically, the fact that a gradient descent appears to be a valid description of neuronal activity means that variational free energy is a Lyapunov function for neuronal dynamics, which therefore conform to Hamilton\u2019s principle of least action. <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1162\/neco_a_00912","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2016,11,21]],"date-time":"2016-11-21T20:46:09Z","timestamp":1479761169000},"page":"1-49","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":931,"title":["Active Inference: A Process Theory"],"prefix":"10.1162","volume":"29","author":[{"given":"Karl","family":"Friston","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL, London WC1N\u00a03BG, U.K."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Thomas","family":"FitzGerald","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL, London WC1N\u00a03BG, U.K., and Max Planck\u2013UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, London WC1B\u00a05BE, U.K."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Francesco","family":"Rigoli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL, London WC1N\u00a03BG, U.K."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Philipp","family":"Schwartenbeck","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL, London WC1N\u00a03BG, U.K.; Max Planck\u2013UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, London, WC1B\u00a05BE, U.K.; Centre for Neurocognitive Research, University of Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; and Neuroscience Institute, Christian-Doppler-Klinik, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Giovanni","family":"Pezzulo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council, 00185 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"281","reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/81453"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s00429-012-0475-5"},{"key":"B3","author":"Attias H.","year":"2003","journal-title":"Proc. of the 9th Int. 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