what is thinking
flexible organisation and manipulation of internal representations
Does perception copy the physical world exactly into the mind?
Perception is NOT a one-to-one mapping of the physical world into the mind as the brain uses algorithms and assumptions to actively construct an image of the world
why does the brain need strategies for perception?
We do not have unambiguous information coming through our senses
Sensory input is incomplete or unclear (e.g., 3D world projected onto 2D retina). The brain fills gaps using expectations to make a best guess.
What does the brain combine with visual observations for object recognition?
Brain integrates specific observations (e.g. for visual object recognition: contour lines / shape, colour) with all kinds of contextual information
what is the ventriloquist effect?
the perceived location of a sound is shifted in space by a simultaneously occurring visual stimulus at incongruent location
what is the McGurk effect?
The perceived sound of a spoken syllable is altered by an incongruent visual input of lip movement
what is inference in bayesian cognition?
to infer from observations to the (probability of the) hypothesis
what is a probability?
- non negative numbers between 0 and 1
- the probability of the certain event is 1
- the probabilities of all separate events that comprise a set add up and they add up to p=1
What are the simplified Kolmogorov axioms for a probability
Probabilities are non-negative (real) numbers between 0 and 1 {0 < p < 1} The probability of the certain event is 1. The probabilities of all separate events that comprise a set add up and they add up to p=1.
What can happen if the prior probability is ignored in decisions under uncertainty
Ignoring the prior probability of the hypotheses can lead to seriously wrong decisions (choice of wrong options/hypotheses)
what is conditional probability?
a conditional probability is the probability of a particular ‘event’ within in the set of another event
What are the two major opposing views on Bayesian perception?
Scientists disagree on how completely the brain uses Bayesian principles — one side says perception is fully Bayesian optimal, the other says evidence is not conclusive.
