Embodied cognition-the idea that mental states and processes should be understood in relation to one's bodily constitution and interactions with the world-remains a controversial topic within cognitive science. Recently, however, increasing interest in predictive processing theories among proponents and critics of embodiment alike has raised hopes of a reconciliation. This article sets out to appraise the unificatory potential of predictive processing, focusing in particular on embodied formulations of active inference. Our analysis suggests that most active-inference accounts invoke weak, potentially trivial conceptions of embodiment; those making stronger claims do so independently of the theoretical commitments of the active-inference framework. We argue that a more compelling version of embodied active inference can be motivated by adopting a diachronic perspective on the way rhythmic physiological activity shapes neural development in utero. According to this visceral afferent training hypothesis, early-emerging physiological processes are essential not only for supporting the biophysical development of neural structures but also for configuring the cognitive architecture those structures entail. Focusing in particular on the cardiovascular system, we propose three candidate mechanisms through which visceral afferent training might operate: (a) activity-dependent neuronal development, (b) periodic signal modeling, and (c) oscillatory network coordination.

中文翻译：

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身体作为第一老师：有节奏的内脏动力学在早期认知发展中的作用。

具身认知——认为心理状态和过程应该与一个人的身体构成以及与世界的互动相关的想法——仍然是认知科学中一个有争议的话题。然而，最近，实施例的支持者和批评者对预测处理理论的兴趣日益浓厚，这引发了和解的希望。本文旨在评估预测处理的统一潜力，特别关注主动推理的具体表述。我们的分析表明，大多数主动推理帐户都引用了较弱的、可能微不足道的体现概念。那些提出更强有力主张的人独立于主动推理框架的理论承诺而这样做。我们认为，通过对节律性生理活动塑造子宫内神经发育的方式采取历时视角，可以激发更引人注目的体现主动推理版本。根据这种内脏传入训练假说，早期出现的生理过程不仅对于支持神经结构的生物物理发育至关重要，而且对于配置这些结构所需的认知结构也至关重要。特别关注心血管系统，我们提出了内脏传入训练可能发挥作用的三种候选机制：（a）活动依赖性神经元发育，（b）周期性信号建模，以及（c）振荡网络协调。