Active Inference as a Computational Framework for Consciousness
Review of Philosophy and Psychology August 10, 2021 M. Vilas, R. Auksztulewicz, L. Melloni
Active inference, a mechanistic framework, has been proposed as a foundation for a unified theory of consciousness, but current proposals need refinement to become a process theory. Computational modeling can help by implementing and validating theoretical concepts. Existing models show promise but remain preliminary; they require testing against new empirical neural data to improve predictive and structural validity. A key challenge is generalizing the model to cover the full range of consciousness phenomena, especially phenomenological aspects of experience. Despite these gaps, the approach is valuable for advancing theory and holds potential for future research.