Active Inference with a Self-Prior in the Mirror-Mark Task

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2604.09673v1
• Date: Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:15:03 GMT
• Title: Active Inference with a Self-Prior in the Mirror-Mark Task
• Abstract summary: The mirror self-recognition test evaluates whether a subject touches a mark on its own body that is visible only in a mirror, and is widely used as an indicator of self-awareness.<n>We present a computational model in which this behavior emerges spontaneously through a single mechanism, the self-prior, without any external reward.
• Score: 7.031699672463923
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
• Abstract: The mirror self-recognition test evaluates whether a subject touches a mark on its own body that is visible only in a mirror, and is widely used as an indicator of self-awareness. In this study, we present a computational model in which this behavior emerges spontaneously through a single mechanism, the self-prior, without any external reward. The self-prior, implemented with a Transformer, learns the density of familiar multisensory experiences; when a novel mark appears, the discrepancy from this learned distribution drives mark-directed behavior through active inference. A simulated infant, relying solely on vision and proprioception without tactile input, discovered a sticker placed on its own face in the mirror and removed it in approximately 70% of cases without any explicit instruction. Expected free energy decreased significantly after sticker removal, confirming that the self-prior operates as an internal criterion for distinguishing self from non-self. Cross-modal sampling further demonstrated that the self-prior captures visual--proprioceptive associations, functioning as a probabilistic body schema. These results provide a concise computational account of the key behavior observed in the mirror test and suggest that the free energy principle can serve as a unifying hypothesis for investigating the developmental origins of self-awareness. Code is available at: https://github.com/kim135797531/self-prior-mirror

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