Yeah, it is confusing. Best I can come up with is that it would have been better to call it the minimum energy expenditure principle, or something like that. The brain is the most energy consumptive organ in the body (2% of biomass, uses 20% of our energy), and the less work it can do the better (for energy and for survival). So it’s main function is to predict what is likely to happen in the world, based on what it has learnt so far and the model it has created accordingly. So the better the predictions ( ie the better the “fit” between the model and the world), the less energy it has to expend (and hence the more free energy remaining) to keep us safe/prospering. Yeah? Anyone else want to weigh in on this?
@@andrewcolliver2642 I understand why you are confused, but there is a reason behind the name. Just to clarify, the 'free energy' in Friston's free energy does not refer to the energy used by the brain or anything like that. Basically, the name is motivated by the fact that the formula for describing the difference between the information predicted by a model and the actual information received (i.e., Friston's free energy) is mathematically analogous to the formula for describing Helmholtz's free energy in thermodynamics (the term 'free energy' comes from thermodynamics). In this sense, the free energy talked about in this context is a information theoretic construct. I hope this makes sense to you :-)
First, because it came from physics (Gibbs Free energy) and this is what it was called there. Second, it's okay if terms are confusing. Theorists are not popularisers and they don't have to be crystal clear to everyone. Third, it's energy available to do work - it is not engaged in doing that work right now and it is in that sense that it is "free."
The audio is poor but he explains the free energy principle very well and understandable to me.
Is this also based shannon information theory
Consciousness predicts or tries to predict the events of the environment
why is it called free energy? it's confusing
Yeah, it is confusing. Best I can come up with is that it would have been better to call it the minimum energy expenditure principle, or something like that.
The brain is the most energy consumptive organ in the body (2% of biomass, uses 20% of our energy), and the less work it can do the better (for energy and for survival). So it’s main function is to predict what is likely to happen in the world, based on what it has learnt so far and the model it has created accordingly. So the better the predictions ( ie the better the “fit” between the model and the world), the less energy it has to expend (and hence the more free energy remaining) to keep us safe/prospering.
Yeah?
Anyone else want to weigh in on this?
@@andrewcolliver2642 I understand why you are confused, but there is a reason behind the name. Just to clarify, the 'free energy' in Friston's free energy does not refer to the energy used by the brain or anything like that. Basically, the name is motivated by the fact that the formula for describing the difference between the information predicted by a model and the actual information received (i.e., Friston's free energy) is mathematically analogous to the formula for describing Helmholtz's free energy in thermodynamics (the term 'free energy' comes from thermodynamics). In this sense, the free energy talked about in this context is a information theoretic construct. I hope this makes sense to you :-)
Simon - yes it does make sense now. And gives greater context for the theory. Thanks so much.
First, because it came from physics (Gibbs Free energy) and this is what it was called there. Second, it's okay if terms are confusing. Theorists are not popularisers and they don't have to be crystal clear to everyone. Third, it's energy available to do work - it is not engaged in doing that work right now and it is in that sense that it is "free."
@@alexey5351 Thanks - added info, so even clearer now :)
Interesting content, but I can't handle the poor audio.
Hi. All new episodes of the podcast (now called The Brain Surgeon's Take) have enhanced audio. Enjoy.