Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Reason and Intuition01:37

Reason and Intuition

6.9K
The human brain processes information for decision-making using one of two routes: an intuitive system and a rational system (Epstein, 1994; popularized by Kahneman, 2011 as System 1 and System 2, respectively). The intuitive system is quick, impulsive, and operates with minimal effort, relying on emotions or habits to provide cues for what to do next, while the rational system is logical, analytical, deliberate, and methodical. Research in neuropsychology suggests that the...
6.9K
Decision Making01:20

Decision Making

249
Decision-making is a fundamental cognitive process that involves evaluating alternatives and selecting among them. This process can range from simple choices, such as deciding what to wear, to complex decisions, like choosing a major in college or a career path. The complexity of the decision often dictates the approach we use, which can be broadly categorized into two types: automatic and controlled decision-making.
Automatic decision-making is fast, intuitive, and relies on gut feelings...
249
Decision Making: Traditional Method01:14

Decision Making: Traditional Method

4.2K
The process of hypothesis testing based on the traditional method includes calculating the critical value, testing the value of the test statistic using the sample data, and interpreting these values.
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is decided based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to this claim is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses, out of which a null hypothesis would be a...
4.2K
High-Level and Low-Level Awareness01:19

High-Level and Low-Level Awareness

398
Controlled processes in human consciousness represent high-alert mental states where individuals deliberately focus their attention on achieving specific goals. Controlled processes can be seen in situations like mastering new technology, where a person might become so absorbed that they ignore surrounding distractions. Such processes involve selective attention, requiring one to concentrate on particular elements of experience while disregarding others. These are governed by executive...
398
Metacognition01:26

Metacognition

288
Metacognition is a conscious process where individuals are aware of their cognitive and executive processes, such as planning before solving a problem or self-monitoring during reading. For instance, a writer may need help with composing a piece. The situation involves a writer who is working on a piece of writing, but while doing so, they realize that something is missing. They notice that their characters lack depth or details. This realization occurs because the writer is reflecting on their...
288
Control Systems01:10

Control Systems

1.4K
Control systems are everywhere in contemporary society, influencing diverse applications from aerospace to automated manufacturing. These systems can be found naturally within biological processes, such as blood sugar regulation and heart rate adjustment in response to stress, as well as in man-made systems like elevators and automated vehicles. A control system is essentially a network of subsystems and processes that collaboratively convert specific inputs into desired outputs.
At the heart...
1.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Exposure to false cardiac feedback alters pain perception and anticipatory cardiac frequency.

eLife·2026
Same author

Gaze dynamics prior to navigation support hierarchical planning.

PloS one·2026
Same author

StrokeVR: How Virtual Reality Can Enhance Body Perception after Stroke.

Cyberpsychology, behavior and social networking·2026
Same author

Limb apraxia and active inference in the visuomotor pathways.

Psychonomic bulletin & review·2026
Same author

The continuous dynamics of planning and acting in a virtually embodied task.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

False but phonologically plausible linguistic priors induce cross-linguistic auditory illusions and attenuate electrophysiological markers of surprise.

Imaging neuroscience (Cambridge, Mass.)·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 20, 2025

Real-Time Proxy-Control of Re-Parameterized Peripheral Signals using a Close-Loop Interface
11:54

Real-Time Proxy-Control of Re-Parameterized Peripheral Signals using a Close-Loop Interface

Published on: May 8, 2021

4.7K

Active inference and cognitive control: Balancing deliberation and habits through precision optimization.

Riccardo Proietti1, Thomas Parr2, Alessia Tessari3

  • 1Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council, Via San Martino della Battaglia 44, Rome 00185, Italy.

Physics of Life Reviews
|May 27, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

We introduce a new cognitive control theory using active inference. This model optimizes a precision parameter to balance deliberate and habitual actions, improving context-sensitivity and habit suspension for better decision-making.

Keywords:
Active inferenceAttention to actionCognitive controlDopamineMental effort

More Related Videos

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
05:48

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

Published on: June 12, 2020

5.9K
The Attentional Set Shifting Task: A Measure of Cognitive Flexibility in Mice
09:15

The Attentional Set Shifting Task: A Measure of Cognitive Flexibility in Mice

Published on: February 4, 2015

27.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 20, 2025

Real-Time Proxy-Control of Re-Parameterized Peripheral Signals using a Close-Loop Interface
11:54

Real-Time Proxy-Control of Re-Parameterized Peripheral Signals using a Close-Loop Interface

Published on: May 8, 2021

4.7K
The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
05:48

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

Published on: June 12, 2020

5.9K
The Attentional Set Shifting Task: A Measure of Cognitive Flexibility in Mice
09:15

The Attentional Set Shifting Task: A Measure of Cognitive Flexibility in Mice

Published on: February 4, 2015

27.7K

Area of Science:

  • Computational Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Science
  • Artificial Intelligence

Background:

  • Cognitive control is crucial for adaptive behavior, balancing deliberate and habitual action selection.
  • Existing active inference models struggle with context-sensitive control, particularly reverting from habitual to deliberate action.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a novel formulation of cognitive control within the active inference framework.
  • To address the limitations of standard active inference in context-sensitive control and habit suspension.

Main Methods:

  • Developed a hierarchical active inference model with meta-cognitive control.
  • Simulated a driving scenario to test adaptive habit formation and suspension.
  • Modeled neurobiological dynamics in dopamine pathways, ACC, and locus coeruleus.

Main Results:

  • The novel model successfully balances deliberative and habitual control via a precision parameter.
  • The meta-cognitive level can initiate and suspend habits, enhancing context-sensitivity.
  • Key cognitive control processes emerge from the free energy minimization principle.

Conclusions:

  • Hierarchical active inference provides a unified framework for understanding cognitive control.
  • This formulation explains habit formation, suspension, and context-switching.
  • The model offers a neurobiologically plausible account of cognitive control mechanisms.