Fetal brain activity and the free energy principle
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To study whether the free energy principle can explain fetal brain activity and the existence of fetal consciousness via a chaotic dimension derived using artificial intelligence. METHODS: In this observational study, we used a four-dimensional ultrasound technique obtained to collect images of fetal faces from pregnancies at 27-37 weeks of gestation, between February and December 2021. We developed an artificial intelligence classifier that recognizes fetal facial expressions, which are thought to relate to fetal brain activity. We then applied the classifier to video files of facial images to generate each expression category's probabilities. We calculated the chaotic dimensions from the probability lists, and we created and investigated the free energy principle's mathematical model that was assumed to be linked to the chaotic dimension. We used a Mann-Whitney test, linear regression test, and one-way analysis of variance for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The chaotic dimension revealed that the fetus had dense and sparse states of brain activity, which fluctuated at a statistically significant level. The chaotic dimension and free energy were larger in the sparse state than in the dense state. CONCLUSIONS: The fluctuating free energy suggests consciousness seemed to exist in the fetus after 27 weeks.
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Miyagi et al. showed that the identification of dense and sparse states of brain activity is possible.
“and showed that the identification of dense and sparse states of brain activity is possible [104].”
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Jost, E., Kosian, P., Jimenez Cruz, J., Albarqouni, S., Gembruch, U., Strizek, B., & Recker, F. (2023) · Journal of Clinical Medicine · doi:10.3390/jcm12216833 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
“Miyagi et al. proposed an AI classifier analyzing 4D US volumes to assess fetal facial expressions and classify them into different categories [102,103], and showed that the identification of dense and sparse states of brain activity is possible [104].”
Background
- Authors
- Miyagi, Y., Hata, T., & Miyake, T.
- Affiliations
- Department of Gynecology , Miyake Ofuku Clinic , Okayama , Japan
- Kagawa University (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Miyagi, Yasunari
- Venue
- Journal of Perinatal Medicine
- Publisher
- Walter de Gruyter GmbH
- Published
- 2023-04-26
- Volume
- 51
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 925-931
- ISSN
- 0300-5577 (ISSN-L)
- 1619-3997
- OpenAlex
- W4366991572
- Cited by
- 6
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1
- FWCI
- 0.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Perinatal Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Embodied and Extended Cognition
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Philosophy and Theoretical Science
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Neonatal and fetal brain pathology
- Keywords
- fetal brain activity, free energy principle, fetal consciousness, fetal facial expressions, fetal brain development, prenatal ultrasound, artificial intelligence classification
- MeSH terms
- Artificial Intelligence, Brain, Female, Fetal Movement, Fetus, Humans, Pregnancy, Ultrasonography, Prenatal
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