Predictive codes for forthcoming perception in the frontal cortex

Science. 2006 Nov 24;314(5803):1311-4. doi: 10.1126/science.1132028.

Abstract

Incoming sensory information is often ambiguous, and the brain has to make decisions during perception. "Predictive coding" proposes that the brain resolves perceptual ambiguity by anticipating the forthcoming sensory environment, generating a template against which to match observed sensory evidence. We observed a neural representation of predicted perception in the medial frontal cortex, while human subjects decided whether visual objects were faces or not. Moreover, perceptual decisions about faces were associated with an increase in top-down connectivity from the frontal cortex to face-sensitive visual areas, consistent with the matching of predicted and observed evidence for the presence of faces.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amygdala / physiology
  • Brain Mapping
  • Discrimination, Psychological
  • Face
  • Female
  • Form Perception*
  • Frontal Lobe / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Mental Processes*
  • Models, Neurological
  • Nerve Net / physiology
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Occipital Lobe / physiology
  • Parietal Lobe / physiology
  • Temporal Lobe / physiology
  • Visual Cortex / physiology