EXPLORING CONCUSSION RECOVERY
THROUGH THE LENS OF THE FREE ENERGY PRINCIPLE AND MARKOV BLANKET THEORY
Ioannis MAVROUDIS 1,2
Alin CIOBICA 3,4,5,6
1 Department of Neuroscience, Leeds
Teaching Hospitals, NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
2 Leeds University
3Department of Biology, Faculty of
Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, Bd. Carol I no. 20A,
700505 Iasi, Romania
4 Centre of Biomedical Research, Romanian
Academy, Bd. Carol I, no. 8, 700506 Iași, Romania
5 Academy of Romanian Scientists, 3 Ilfov St., 050044, Bucharest,
Romania
6 Preclinical Department, Apollonia
University, Păcurari Street 11, 700511 Iași, Romania
ABSTRACT
This paper delves into the application of the Free Energy Principle
(FEP) and the concept of the Markov blanket in understanding the neurocognitive
implications of concussion. The FEP, a unifying theory in neuroscience, posits
that the brain functions to minimize free energy, equating to a reduction in
surprise or uncertainty regarding sensory inputs. The Markov blanket, defining
the boundary between a system and its environment, is integral to this
framework, particularly in understanding how the brain processes and responds
to sensory information. We explore how a concussion might disrupt the brain's
predictive processing and its ability to minimize free energy, leading to
increased prediction errors and cognitive deficits. This disruption is
hypothesized to manifest as an inability to accurately predict sensory inputs,
resulting in impaired cognitive functions post-concussion. The paper also
discusses the potential of neuroplasticity in concussion recovery, framed
within the FEP as the brain's effort to re-establish minimized free energy
under new constraints. We propose a methodological approach combining
neuroimaging and computational modeling to empirically test these hypotheses.
This theoretical exploration offers novel insights into the mechanisms
underlying concussion-induced cognitive impairments and suggests new avenues
for therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation strategies.
Keywords: Lens, Markov Blanket Theory, Free Energy
Principle (FEP), Brain Processes
DOI
https://doi.org/10.56082/annalsarscibio.2024.1.132
