Active Inference in Psychology and Psychiatry: Progress to Date?

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Science
• Theoretical Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• The free energy principle offers a formal theory for adaptive self-organizing systems.
• It integrates concepts from statistical thermodynamics, machine learning, and neuroscience.
• This has led to 'active inference' process theories for cognition and behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the theoretical progress active inference has made in psychology.
• To explore its contributions to understanding and treating psychopathology.
• To assess its potential as a unifying paradigm for psychology.

Main Methods:

• Review of theoretical advancements in psychology informed by active inference.
• Analysis of the application of active inference to psychopathology.
• Examination of the integration of active inference with evolutionary and developmental psychology.

Main Results:

• Active inference is beginning to influence theoretical progress in psychology and psychiatry.
• Despite translational obstacles, it shows promise for unifying diverse psychological subdisciplines.
• Its application to understanding and treating psychopathology is still emerging.

Conclusions:

• Active inference has the potential to become a new paradigm in psychology.
• It offers a framework to integrate competing psychological theories, including evolutionary and developmental approaches.
• Further research is needed to overcome translational challenges and realize its clinical potential in psychology and psychiatry.