A mechanistic theory of planning in prefrontal cortex - bioRxiv
biorxiv.org
New neuroscience research proposes that the prefrontal cortex plans the future using "spacetime attractors" — dynamic neural states that physically encode sequences before action, reframing free will and decision-making.
Attractor DynamicsPredictive CodingNeural Computation TheoryEmbodied Cognition
Theory Briefing
- The spacetime attractor theory posits that prefrontal neurons form stable dynamic patterns that mechanistically encode planned sequences of actions.
- Unlike black-box AI models of cognition, this framework is explicitly testable, offering a concrete path to understanding how biological planning works.
- If validated, the theory bridges neuroscience and philosophy of mind — explaining deliberate choice as emergent physics of neural dynamics, not mysterious agency.