Science Quickly Unpacking the Brain’s Role in Inventing Your Perception
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Sep 12, 2025 Cognitive neuroscientist Daniel Yon, director of the Uncertainty Lab at Birkbeck University, discusses how our brains actively invent reality, rather than simply perceiving it. He reveals that perception is a predictive process, likening the brain to a scientist interpreting sensory data. Yon explores the evolutionary advantages of this predictive nature and how our perceptions can sometimes misalign with reality, potentially influencing mental health. His insights challenge us to rethink how we understand both perception and the brain’s versatility.
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Perception Is Constructed, Not Recorded
- Perception is an active construction where the brain builds theories about the world rather than passively recording it.
- Daniel Yon argues this invented perception is a fundamental feature that helps us navigate uncertainty efficiently.
Perception Is Prediction Plus Input
- The brain combines incoming sensory signals with descending predictions to form perception.
- What we perceive resolves a match between expectation and sensory input rather than being raw input alone.
Misheard Lyrics Reveal Predictive Perception
- Misheard song lyrics show how the brain's predictions can override actual sounds.
- Yon uses examples like Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan to illustrate reasonable but incorrect interpretations.