Front Behav Neurosci June 2021 PMID 34248515

Active Inferants: An Active Inference Framework for Ant Colony Behavior.

Daniel Ari Friedman, Alec Tschantz, Maxwell J D Ramstead, Karl Friston, Axel Constant

Mentions

43
Peak: 19 in Sep 2021
across 2 sources since May 2021

Extended reach

267,964
potential audience

Total likes

127

Video views

491

Mentions per month

May 2021 – Aug 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter40 posts
  • YouTube3 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Discussions frequently emphasize the innovative aspect of modeling ant colony behavior using active inference, with participants describing the paper as a 'neat' and 'pioneering' approach, supported by references to livestream sessions, background videos, and collaborative invitations that show genuine interest and active engagement. The supportive tone and focus on potential applications underscore its perceived high impact.

AgreementStrong agreement

Most discussions express strong support and recognition of the significance of the paper, highlighting its innovative approach and promising applications.

InterestHigh interest

Participants actively promote the research through livestream events, background videos, and invitations for questions, indicating high curiosity and engagement.

EngagementHigh engagement

The conversations include detailed references to the research methods, participatory discussions, and shared excitement about future collaborations, reflecting deep involvement.

ImpactHigh impact

The widespread dissemination, positive acknowledgments, and its acceptance into a research journal suggest the publication has substantial influence within the scientific community.

Abstract in brief

  • The paper introduces an active inference model to simulate how ant colonies search for food, using a mathematical framework called a Markov decision process (MDP).
  • The model is tested through experiments, like simulating the T-maze paradigm, demonstrating that it can replicate key ant behaviors such as forming trails after finding food.
  • The authors suggest that this approach can be expanded into a broader multiscale system, helping us understand complex biological behaviors across different levels.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Chaz Firestone
@chazfirestone · X

Contender for paper title of the year, in the pun category https://t.co/TrrKp9bN8J

Jun 28, 2021 · 25 likes · 3 shares · 18,454 followers View post →
Axel Constant
@ConstantAxel · X

PAPER ACCEPTED : with @InferenceActive, @a_tschantz, @mjdramstead and Karl Friston https://t.co/t1I1B3Cvi8

May 19, 2021 · 23 likes · 7 shares · 625 followers View post →
Axel Constant
@ConstantAxel · X

Final version of Active Inferants with @InferenceActive , @a_tschantz , @mjdramstead , Karl Friston https://t.co/hprvIJ941y

Jun 24, 2021 · 17 likes · 6 shares · 625 followers View post →
Maxwell Ramstead
@mjdramstead · X

@_rkauf @Numenta @pgupta_ci @jacoblijie Very much agree. That's what we started doing in this paper (Neural and phenotypic representation under the free-energy principle): https://t.co/5DJfFoinIY and in this one (Active inferants: An active inference framework for ant colony behavior): https://t.co/QkaGXSfqDU

Aug 13, 2021 · 4 likes · 1 share · 5,230 followers View post →
Active Inference Institute
@InferenceActive · X

Live now with @shadeofbleu @marcotreven and more! https://t.co/YVpXZnwArk ActInf Livestream #029.1 ~ “Active Inferants: An Active Inference Framework for Ant Colony Behavior” https://t.co/nHLx0NclH1

Sep 21, 2021 · 4 likes · 1 share · 4,793 followers View post →
KLI: A Home to Theory that Matters
@KLIAustria · X

Cool paper on predictive processing in complex living systems! Active Inferants: An Active Inference Framework for Ant Colony Behavior @FrontiersIn https://t.co/pbg6jACqx6 Many thanks, @marcotreven, for sharing!

Sep 9, 2021 · 4 likes · 2,653 followers View post →

All mentions

liu grey
@Liu_eroteme · X

@max_paperclips @MetaThis I'd say the same.. pretty confidently even, given the best frameworks we have to functionally describe human cognition can be applied to ant colonies as well https://t.co/V40pzBjPtT

Aug 18, 2025 · 2 likes · 3,489 followers View post →
Bleu Knight (blu naɪt)
@shadeofbleu · X

RT @InferenceActive: Live now for ActInf Livestream #029.2 ~ “Active Inferants: An Active Inference Framework for Ant Colony Behavior” http…

Sep 28, 2021 · 2 shares · 343 followers View post →
Active Inference Institute
@InferenceActive · X

Live now for ActInf Livestream #029.2 ~ “Active Inferants: An Active Inference Framework for Ant Colony Behavior” https://t.co/Tn4XdRUKiP with @shadeofbleu and more!

Sep 28, 2021 · 3 likes · 2 shares · 4,793 followers View post →
ScottLDavid
@ScottLDavid · X

RT @InferenceActive: Thanks everyone for the awesome discussion. Next week on Sept 28th at 14:00 UTC (7am PT) we will have the follow-up L…

Sep 22, 2021 · 1 share · 557 followers View post →
Active Inference Institute
@InferenceActive · X

Thanks everyone for the awesome discussion. Next week on Sept 28th at 14:00 UTC (7am PT) we will have the follow-up Livestream #029.2 on the same Active InferAnts paper: https://t.co/Tn4XdRUKiP Post here if you have any ideas/questions, or let us know if you want to join live! https://t.co/3DcsY9zR9v

Sep 22, 2021 · 3 likes · 1 share · 4,793 followers View post →
Alex Vyatkin
@actinfer · X

RT @InferenceActive: Live now with @shadeofbleu @marcotreven and more! https://t.co/YVpXZnwArk ActInf Livestream #029.1 ~ “Active Inferant…

Sep 21, 2021 · 1 share · 663 followers View post →
Active Inference Institute
@InferenceActive · X

Live now with @shadeofbleu @marcotreven and more! https://t.co/YVpXZnwArk ActInf Livestream #029.1 ~ “Active Inferants: An Active Inference Framework for Ant Colony Behavior” https://t.co/nHLx0NclH1

Sep 21, 2021 · 4 likes · 1 share · 4,793 followers View post →
Graham Mead (NeuroPleb)
@twillierod · X

First participatory discussion on “Active Inferants: An Active Inference Framework for Ant Colony Behavior” Daniel Ari Friedman, Alec Tschantz, Maxwell J. D. Ramstead, Karl Friston, and Axel Constant https://t.co/dwZApb5GKG

Sep 21, 2021 · 2 likes · 1,449 followers View post →
Active Inference Institute
@InferenceActive · X

Live now: https://t.co/6aAHJjpVGL ActInf Livestream #029.0 ~ “Active Inferants: An Active Inference Framework for Ant Colony Behavior” with @shadeofbleu Join us live to ask questions now, and all are welcome for the .1 + .2 participatory discussions in the coming weeks!

Sep 17, 2021 · 1 like · 4,793 followers View post →
Bleu Knight (blu naɪt)
@shadeofbleu · X

RT @InferenceActive: @mjdramstead Thanks haha, good catch. The .0 background/contextualizing video will be tomorrow Friday the 17th with…

Sep 16, 2021 · 1 share · 343 followers View post →
Active Inference Institute
@InferenceActive · X

@mjdramstead Thanks haha, good catch. The .0 background/contextualizing video will be tomorrow Friday the 17th with @shadeofbleu at: https://t.co/6aAHJjpVGL Then the group discussions open for all will be at the regular times, Tuesdays at 14:00 UTC / 10am ET, on Sept. 21 and 28.

Sep 16, 2021 · 2 likes · 1 share · 4,793 followers View post →
ScottLDavid
@ScottLDavid · X

RT @InferenceActive: The paper is https://t.co/wdm7EW5sOn with @InferenceActive @mjdramstead Karl Friston / @FarlKriston & @ConstantAxel .

Sep 16, 2021 · 1 share · 557 followers View post →
ScottLDavid
@ScottLDavid · X

RT @InferenceActive: Friday Sept. 15th at 16:00 UTC / 9am PT: https://t.co/6aAHJjpVGL ActInf Livestream #029.0 ~ “Active Inferants: An Acti…

Sep 16, 2021 · 1 share · 557 followers View post →
Active Inference Institute
@InferenceActive · X

The paper is https://t.co/wdm7EW5sOn with @InferenceActive @mjdramstead Karl Friston / @FarlKriston & @ConstantAxel .

Sep 15, 2021 · 3 likes · 1 share · 4,793 followers View post →
Active Inference Institute
@InferenceActive · X

Friday Sept. 15th at 16:00 UTC / 9am PT: https://t.co/6aAHJjpVGL ActInf Livestream #029.0 ~ “Active Inferants: An Active Inference Framework for Ant Colony Behavior” Join us live to ask questions & for the .1 + .2 participatory discussions in the coming weeks! All are welcome.

Sep 15, 2021 · 2 likes · 1 share · 4,793 followers View post →
Anderson Fonseca
@AndydeFonseca · X

3 pontos m chamam a atenção no artigo de Friedman. 1.A relação entre o tamanho da colônia e a dist. interativa entre os membros (forte ou frouxa). 2.O papel da dopamina e serotonina na org. colonial e perc. individual. 3.A visão externalista da cognição. https://t.co/hbN5TgGNGp

Sep 14, 2021 · 3 likes · 315 followers View post →
KLI: A Home to Theory that Matters
@KLIAustria · X

Cool paper on predictive processing in complex living systems! Active Inferants: An Active Inference Framework for Ant Colony Behavior @FrontiersIn https://t.co/pbg6jACqx6 Many thanks, @marcotreven, for sharing!

Sep 9, 2021 · 4 likes · 2,653 followers View post →
Pranav Gupta
@pgupta_ci · X

RT @mjdramstead: @_rkauf @Numenta @pgupta_ci @jacoblijie Very much agree. That's what we started doing in this paper (Neural and phenotypic…

Aug 13, 2021 · 1 share · 142 followers View post →
Maxwell Ramstead
@mjdramstead · X

@_rkauf @Numenta @pgupta_ci @jacoblijie Very much agree. That's what we started doing in this paper (Neural and phenotypic representation under the free-energy principle): https://t.co/5DJfFoinIY and in this one (Active inferants: An active inference framework for ant colony behavior): https://t.co/QkaGXSfqDU

Aug 13, 2021 · 4 likes · 1 share · 5,230 followers View post →
UCL Discovery
@ucl_discovery · X

Open Access UCL Research: Active Inferants: An Active Inference Framework for Ant Colony Behavior - UCL Discovery https://t.co/MCqiV3R7Sv

Jul 20, 2021 · 1 like · 2,507 followers View post →
Frontiers - Neuroscience
@FrontNeurosci · X

New Research: Active Inferants: An Active Inference Framework for Ant Colony Behavior: In this paper, we introduce an active inference model of ant colony foraging behavior, and implement the model in a series of in silico experiments.… https://t.co/gcwMIMBKKz #neuroscience

Jul 7, 2021 · 81,286 followers View post →
UltimApe
@ultimape · X

@suspendedreason "outlining how the active inference ant colony foraging behavioral model can be extended and situated within a nested multiscale framework and systems approaches to biology more generally." https://t.co/nvlmRRY0lK oooh neat.

Jul 1, 2021 · 1 like · 6,782 followers View post →
Ordo Fraterna Fibonacci
@OrdoFibonacci · X

Active Inferants: An Active Inference Framework for Ant Colony Behavior https://t.co/uKVrMlBYvc

Jun 28, 2021 · 2,569 followers View post →
John Peters
@johnthejack · X

RT @chazfirestone: Contender for paper title of the year, in the pun category https://t.co/TrrKp9bN8J

Jun 28, 2021 · 3 shares · 4,914 followers View post →
Andrew D Wilson is now @adw.bsky.social
@PsychScientists · X

RT @chazfirestone: Contender for paper title of the year, in the pun category https://t.co/TrrKp9bN8J

Jun 28, 2021 · 3 shares · 9,645 followers View post →
Christopher Honey
@chrishoney · X

RT @chazfirestone: Contender for paper title of the year, in the pun category https://t.co/TrrKp9bN8J

Jun 28, 2021 · 3 shares · 2,026 followers View post →
Chaz Firestone
@chazfirestone · X

Contender for paper title of the year, in the pun category https://t.co/TrrKp9bN8J

Jun 28, 2021 · 25 likes · 3 shares · 18,454 followers View post →
Mark Miller
@PredictiveLife · X

RT @ConstantAxel: Final version of Active Inferants with @InferenceActive , @a_tschantz , @mjdramstead , Karl Friston https://t.co/hprvIJ9…

Jun 24, 2021 · 6 shares · 1,501 followers View post →
Active Inference Institute
@InferenceActive · X

RT @ConstantAxel: Final version of Active Inferants with @InferenceActive , @a_tschantz , @mjdramstead , Karl Friston https://t.co/hprvIJ9…

Jun 24, 2021 · 6 shares · 4,793 followers View post →
Jibran Khokhar
@DrJKhokhar · X

RT @ConstantAxel: Final version of Active Inferants with @InferenceActive , @a_tschantz , @mjdramstead , Karl Friston https://t.co/hprvIJ9…

Jun 24, 2021 · 6 shares · 10,865 followers View post →
CLaE
@leafs_s · X

RT @ConstantAxel: Final version of Active Inferants with @InferenceActive , @a_tschantz , @mjdramstead , Karl Friston https://t.co/hprvIJ9…

Jun 24, 2021 · 6 shares · 28,677 followers View post →
Axel Constant
@ConstantAxel · X

Final version of Active Inferants with @InferenceActive , @a_tschantz , @mjdramstead , Karl Friston https://t.co/hprvIJ941y

Jun 24, 2021 · 17 likes · 6 shares · 625 followers View post →
Mark Miller
@PredictiveLife · X

RT @ConstantAxel: PAPER ACCEPTED : with @InferenceActive, @a_tschantz, @mjdramstead and Karl Friston https://t.co/t1I1B3Cvi8

May 22, 2021 · 7 shares · 1,501 followers View post →
ratul (Raihan Kabir Ratul)
@RatulKabir22 · X

RT @ConstantAxel: PAPER ACCEPTED : with @InferenceActive, @a_tschantz, @mjdramstead and Karl Friston https://t.co/t1I1B3Cvi8

May 21, 2021 · 7 shares · 111 followers View post →
CLaE
@leafs_s · X

RT @ConstantAxel: PAPER ACCEPTED : with @InferenceActive, @a_tschantz, @mjdramstead and Karl Friston https://t.co/t1I1B3Cvi8

May 20, 2021 · 7 shares · 28,677 followers View post →
Bleu Knight (blu naɪt)
@shadeofbleu · X

RT @ConstantAxel: PAPER ACCEPTED : with @InferenceActive, @a_tschantz, @mjdramstead and Karl Friston https://t.co/t1I1B3Cvi8

May 19, 2021 · 7 shares · 343 followers View post →
David Vanegas
@evolanguagemind · X

RT @ConstantAxel: PAPER ACCEPTED : with @InferenceActive, @a_tschantz, @mjdramstead and Karl Friston https://t.co/t1I1B3Cvi8

May 19, 2021 · 7 shares · 1,474 followers View post →
Maxwell Ramstead
@mjdramstead · X

RT @ConstantAxel: PAPER ACCEPTED : with @InferenceActive, @a_tschantz, @mjdramstead and Karl Friston https://t.co/t1I1B3Cvi8

May 19, 2021 · 7 shares · 5,230 followers View post →
Active Inference Institute
@InferenceActive · X

RT @ConstantAxel: PAPER ACCEPTED : with @InferenceActive, @a_tschantz, @mjdramstead and Karl Friston https://t.co/t1I1B3Cvi8

May 19, 2021 · 7 shares · 4,793 followers View post →
Axel Constant
@ConstantAxel · X

PAPER ACCEPTED : with @InferenceActive, @a_tschantz, @mjdramstead and Karl Friston https://t.co/t1I1B3Cvi8

May 19, 2021 · 23 likes · 7 shares · 625 followers View post →