Information, energy, and exploration.
Thomas Parr, John Broulidakis
Behavioral and Brain Sciences September 17, 2026 DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x2510383x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Commentary Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that perceptual inference has a metabolic cost, so the relationship between thermodynamic and informational energies deserves attention, and proposes that embodied systems actively select their data over time, which may be a core feature of biological consciousness. |
Abstract
This commentary picks up on two related themes in Seth's article - which have roots in embodiment. The first is that perceptual inference has a metabolic cost, and it is important to consider the relationship between thermodynamic and informational energies. The second is that embodied systems actively select their data over time - which may be a core feature of biological consciousness.