The Dialectics of Free Energy Minimization.

Karl Friston's free energy minimization has been received with great enthusiasm. With good reason: it not only makes the bold claim to a unifying theory of the brain, but it is presented as an principle applicable to living systems in general. In this article, we set out to show how the breadth of scope of Friston's framework converges with the dialectics of Georg Hegel.

Global gain modulation generates time-dependent urgency during perceptual choice in humans.

Decision-makers must often balance the desire to accumulate information with the costs of protracted deliberation. Optimal, reward-maximizing decision-making can require dynamic adjustment of this speed/accuracy trade-off over the course of a single decision. However, it is unclear whether humans are capable of such time-dependent adjustments.

Neurotransmitters as food supplements: the effects of GABA on brain and behavior.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the human cortex. The food supplement version of GABA is widely available online. Although many consumers claim that they experience benefits from the use of these products, it is unclear whether these supplements confer benefits beyond a placebo effect.