Is Your Brain a Prediction Machine? Karl Friston's Free Energy Principle
Psych 🧠- 396/500
Hello Reader,
Karl Friston's Free Energy Principle (FEP) is a theory in neuroscience that explains how the brain minimizes uncertainty to maintain stability.
What is it?
According to this principle, the brain continuously predicts sensory input and updates its models of the world to reduce "free energy"—a measure of surprise or uncertainty.
Examples of the Free Energy Principle in Action:
Anxiety & Overthinking: The brain tries to predict all possible outcomes to reduce uncertainty, leading to overanalyzing situations.
Routine & Habit Formation: Repeating behaviors reduces unpredictability, making daily life smoother and energy-efficient.
Social Interactions: People rely on past experiences to predict social cues, minimizing awkwardness or uncertainty in conversations.
Psychologically, it explains behaviors like habit formation, anxiety management, and cognitive efficiency.
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What do I need to know:
The Brain Hates Uncertainty: It constantly seeks to predict and control its environment to feel stable.
Habits Help Reduce Mental Load: Repetition and routines allow the brain to function more efficiently.
Too Much Prediction Can Lead to Anxiety: Overestimating uncertainties can result in overthinking and stress.
Adaptability is Crucial: While reducing uncertainty is helpful, being too rigid in predictions can make adapting to change difficult.
Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_energy_principle