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Parvizi-Wayne D, Sandved-Smith L, Pitliya RJ, Limanowski J, Tufft MRA, Friston KJ. Forgetting ourselves in flow: an active inference account of flow states and how we experience ourselves within them. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1354719. [PMID: 38887627 PMCID: PMC11182004 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1354719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Flow has been described as a state of optimal performance, experienced universally across a broad range of domains: from art to athletics, gaming to writing. However, its phenomenal characteristics can, at first glance, be puzzling. Firstly, individuals in flow supposedly report a loss of self-awareness, even though they perform in a manner which seems to evince their agency and skill. Secondly, flow states are felt to be effortless, despite the prerequisite complexity of the tasks that engender them. In this paper, we unpick these features of flow, as well as others, through the active inference framework, which posits that action and perception are forms of active Bayesian inference directed at sustained self-organisation; i.e., the minimisation of variational free energy. We propose that the phenomenology of flow is rooted in the deployment of high precision weight over (i) the expected sensory consequences of action and (ii) beliefs about how action will sequentially unfold. This computational mechanism thus draws the embodied cognitive system to minimise the ensuing (i.e., expected) free energy through the exploitation of the pragmatic affordances at hand. Furthermore, given the challenging dynamics the flow-inducing situation presents, attention must be wholly focussed on the unfolding task whilst counterfactual planning is restricted, leading to the attested loss of the sense of self-as-object. This involves the inhibition of both the sense of self as a temporally extended object and higher-order, meta-cognitive forms of self-conceptualisation. Nevertheless, we stress that self-awareness is not entirely lost in flow. Rather, it is pre-reflective and bodily. Our approach to bodily-action-centred phenomenology can be applied to similar facets of seemingly agentive experience beyond canonical flow states, providing insights into the mechanisms of so-called selfless experiences, embodied expertise and wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darius Parvizi-Wayne
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lars Sandved-Smith
- Monash Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Riddhi J. Pitliya
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- VERSES AI Research Lab, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jakub Limanowski
- Institute of Psychology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Miles R. A. Tufft
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Karl J. Friston
- VERSES AI Research Lab, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Morales Pantoja IE, Smirnova L, Muotri AR, Wahlin KJ, Kahn J, Boyd JL, Gracias DH, Harris TD, Cohen-Karni T, Caffo BS, Szalay AS, Han F, Zack DJ, Etienne-Cummings R, Akwaboah A, Romero JC, Alam El Din DM, Plotkin JD, Paulhamus BL, Johnson EC, Gilbert F, Curley JL, Cappiello B, Schwamborn JC, Hill EJ, Roach P, Tornero D, Krall C, Parri R, Sillé F, Levchenko A, Jabbour RE, Kagan BJ, Berlinicke CA, Huang Q, Maertens A, Herrmann K, Tsaioun K, Dastgheyb R, Habela CW, Vogelstein JT, Hartung T. First Organoid Intelligence (OI) workshop to form an OI community. Front Artif Intell 2023; 6:1116870. [PMID: 36925616 PMCID: PMC10013972 DOI: 10.3389/frai.2023.1116870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The brain is arguably the most powerful computation system known. It is extremely efficient in processing large amounts of information and can discern signals from noise, adapt, and filter faulty information all while running on only 20 watts of power. The human brain's processing efficiency, progressive learning, and plasticity are unmatched by any computer system. Recent advances in stem cell technology have elevated the field of cell culture to higher levels of complexity, such as the development of three-dimensional (3D) brain organoids that recapitulate human brain functionality better than traditional monolayer cell systems. Organoid Intelligence (OI) aims to harness the innate biological capabilities of brain organoids for biocomputing and synthetic intelligence by interfacing them with computer technology. With the latest strides in stem cell technology, bioengineering, and machine learning, we can explore the ability of brain organoids to compute, and store given information (input), execute a task (output), and study how this affects the structural and functional connections in the organoids themselves. Furthermore, understanding how learning generates and changes patterns of connectivity in organoids can shed light on the early stages of cognition in the human brain. Investigating and understanding these concepts is an enormous, multidisciplinary endeavor that necessitates the engagement of both the scientific community and the public. Thus, on Feb 22-24 of 2022, the Johns Hopkins University held the first Organoid Intelligence Workshop to form an OI Community and to lay out the groundwork for the establishment of OI as a new scientific discipline. The potential of OI to revolutionize computing, neurological research, and drug development was discussed, along with a vision and roadmap for its development over the coming decade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itzy E. Morales Pantoja
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health and Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Lena Smirnova
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health and Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Alysson R. Muotri
- Department of Pediatrics and Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
- Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (CARTA), Archealization Center (ArchC), Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Karl J. Wahlin
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology & the Shiley Eye Institute, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Jeffrey Kahn
- Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - J. Lomax Boyd
- Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - David H. Gracias
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Laboratory for Computational Sensing and Robotics (LCSR), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Center for Microphysiological Systems (MPS), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Oncology and Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Timothy D. Harris
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, United States
| | - Tzahi Cohen-Karni
- Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Brian S. Caffo
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Alexander S. Szalay
- Department of Computer Science, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Mark Foundation Center for Advanced Genomics and Imaging, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Fang Han
- Department of Statistics and Economics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Donald J. Zack
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Ralph Etienne-Cummings
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Akwasi Akwaboah
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - July Carolina Romero
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health and Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Dowlette-Mary Alam El Din
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health and Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jesse D. Plotkin
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health and Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Barton L. Paulhamus
- Department of Research and Exploratory Development, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, United States
| | - Erik C. Johnson
- Department of Research and Exploratory Development, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, United States
| | - Frederic Gilbert
- Philosophy Program, School of Humanities, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | | | | | - Jens C. Schwamborn
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Eric J. Hill
- School of Biosciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Roach
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Tornero
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Clinic Hospital August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Caroline Krall
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health and Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Rheinallt Parri
- Aston Pharmacy School, College of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Fenna Sillé
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health and Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Andre Levchenko
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Rabih E. Jabbour
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, University of Maryland Global Campus, Rockville, MD, United States
| | | | - Cynthia A. Berlinicke
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Qi Huang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Alexandra Maertens
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health and Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Kathrin Herrmann
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health and Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Katya Tsaioun
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health and Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Raha Dastgheyb
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Christa Whelan Habela
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Joshua T. Vogelstein
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Thomas Hartung
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health and Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT)-Europe, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
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