Does the free energy principle sleep on it?: Comment on “How particular is the physics of the free energy principle?” by Miguel Aguilera et al.

Abstract

An increasing number of publications using the Free Energy Principle (FEP) [1–4] has been published over the last decade, for which one gets the impression that the principle is ubiquitous. Aguilera et al. [5] evaluated the coherence and scope of the FEP using tractable models. A comprehensive examination of the FEP’s ambiguities was presented to determine when the assumptions and conditions of the principle warrant the proposed conclusions. To my understanding, one critical discussion missing in Aguilera et al. was how valuable FEP is when sensations, and even more actions, are drastically reduced [6] as observed during dreaming/asleep [7] (p.39). One wonders why the authors did not evaluate this unclear scenario for FEP since it represents a plain challenge for the principle. To exemplify this issue, I will give some arguments about what is still unclear on FEP to explain what is going on during the sleep transition.