Relativistic Active Inference and the Physics of Lived Experience: A Unified Synthesis of Perceptual Fluctuation, Allostatic Self-Efficacy, and Existential Predictive Dynamics
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) June 17, 2026 David Foremny
Emotional valence is the negative first temporal derivative of free energy, and emotional acceleration maps to the second derivative. The rate of free energy updates is bounded by neural conduction velocity. Collapse of sensory fluctuation forces free energy to diverge, triggering an asymptotic vegetative drive that acts as an evolutionary pacemaker. Affective states are formalized as an allostatic energy buffer governed by the Wundt curve. The dynamics of hedonic collapse are integrated through Allostatic Self-Efficacy and the Closed-Loop Precision Governor, which explains clinical derealization, meditative dissolution, and pre-attentive acceptance of mortality.