Grounding predictive coding models in empirical neuroscience research
Abstract
Clark makes a convincing case for the merits of conceptualizing brains as hierarchical prediction machines. This perspective has the potential to provide an elegant and powerful general theory of brain function, but it will ultimately stand or fall with evidence from basic neuroscience research. Here, we characterize the status quo of that evidence and highlight important avenues for future investigations.
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If neural populations hypothesized to encode prediction errors do not systematically differ under violated expectations even when priors are explicitly manipulated, the predictive coding framework is challenged.
“If no such differences are observed—even when priors are explicitly manipulated—this challenges the predictive coding framework.”
From The myth of the Bayesian brain (2025) · cites this paper as Egner and Summerfield 2013
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“This perspective on action and perception has broad explanatory power in several areas of cognitive neuroscience e and enjoys support from several lines of neuroanatomical and neurophysiological evidence (Egner & Summerfield, 2013; Rao & Ballard, 1999; Srinivasan, Laughlin, & Dubs, 1982).”
BackgroundThe myth of the Bayesian brain
Mangalam, M. (2025) · European Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1007/s00421-025-05855-6 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
“Absence of prediction error signatures: Neural populations hypothesized to encode prediction errors (e.g., mismatch responses in sensory cortices) should systematically differ under conditions of violated expectations (Egner and Summerfield 2013).”
- Authors
- Egner, T., & Summerfield, C.
- Affiliations
- Duke University (US)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Venue
- Behavioral and Brain Sciences
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2013-05-10
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 210-211
- ISSN
- 0140-525X (ISSN-L)
- 1469-1825
- OpenAlex
- W1976373027
- Cited by
- 36
- References
- 31
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 3 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 1.09
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Behavioral and Brain Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Embodied and Extended Cognition
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
- Keywords
- predictive coding, hierarchical prediction, brain function, computational neuroscience
- MeSH terms
- Attention, Brain, Cognition, Humans, Perception, Cognitive Science
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