New Books in Psychology Andy Clark, “Surfing Uncertainty: Prediction, Action, and Embodied Mind” (Oxford UP, 2016)
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Dec 15, 2016 This podcast explores the predictive processing hypothesis and its implications for embodied cognition, epistemology, schizophrenia, autism, and implicit bias. It discusses the concept of top-down models in perceptual experience and the role of embodiment in cognition. The debate between direct realism and indirect realism in relation to predictive coding models is explored, as well as the relevance of Cartesian evil demon thought experiments. The role of top-down expectations and the generation of models, including the potential for cognitive biases, is also discussed.
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Predictive Processing Hypothesis
- The predictive processing hypothesis posits that brains are prediction machines, constantly predicting sensory input.
- These predictions form a model of the world, updating with prediction errors to refine perception and guide action.
Sine-Wave Speech Example
- Sine-wave speech, stripped-down audio, demonstrates how prior knowledge influences perception.
- Initially perceived as whistles, it becomes understandable after hearing the original sentence, highlighting top-down processing.
Empirical Support for Predictive Processing
- The predictive processing theory's empirical standing is strong, with successful predictions in various domains like face recognition and decision-making.
- Specific predictions are testable through fMRI studies, like those on face expectation versus presence in the fusiform face gyrus.