The article offers a comprehensive overview of the Active Perception theory (PA); with the Complex Adaptive Systems theory in the background. It proposes that perceptual and motoric actions are essentially the same --- with the similar requirement for .8 seconds of neural activity --- until the perceptual or motoric act is carried out. In addition, the article identifies intent as a precursor to all perceptual or motoric actions.
The article relies on the latest evidence in neurology (neuroscience), cognitive psychology, genomics and anthropology. It also relates these finds to finds in Artificial Intelligence, especially neural networks.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Support from Other Disciplines
The Basic Tenets
Consciousness
Memory
The Perception by Defaults
Recognition vs. Cognition
Free Will
The Scales of the Lady Justice
Non-monotonic Logic
Kolmogorov’s Complexity
The Triangle of Perception
The Genetics' Corner
The Culture's Corner
And Our Own Corner
Early Development
Social Aspects
What Could Go Wrong
Reality?...
Objectives and Core Themes
The work aims to explain the "Active Perception Theory," proposing that human perception is not a passive input-output process, but an active, dynamic simulation based on expectations and past experiences. It challenges traditional Cartesian views by integrating cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and mathematics to illustrate how we continuously construct our reality.
- The transition from passive to active perception models.
- The role of "default percepts" and mental simulations in daily cognition.
- The influence of genetics, culture, and epigenetics on developmental perception.
- The neurological and philosophical implications of consciousness, free will, and non-monotonic logic.
Excerpt from the Book
The Basic Tenets
The Active Perception (PA) changes Descartes’ picture into dynamic interplay between the environment ↔ our perception of it ↔ and our description of it (brain). The theory was originally conceived by correspondence between William Molyneux and John Locke about blind man suddenly made see – on how would a previously blind person interpret visual sensations? Unfortunately, a blind suddenly made see would be a miracle in their time... However, such cases were made possible in the previous century and Richard L. Gregory was lucky enough to follow up on the real life example of an older blind person suddenly made see.3 Remarkably, his observations echoed very much their conclusions...
In short, PA theory states that we establish a set of more or less vague expectations (default percepts) and related intents for deliberate actions. The mixture of these is raised for what we are about to experience in the next few moments of our lives. These sets are based upon a mental map or description of the place (situation) we are about to be in... And then we start a kind of virtual reality simulation just before the real stuff... As expectations of one moment are confirmed or corrected, the expectations for the following moments grow more specific4 until their time comes to be quickly confirmed or corrected. And this is much faster than building up the whole picture from the scratch every moment of our life...
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Outlines the shift from the traditional Cartesian input-output perception model to the contemporary "Active Perception" framework.
Support from Other Disciplines: Discusses how fields like AI, neural networks, and mathematics support the active perception theory.
The Basic Tenets: Explains how we use expectations and virtual reality-like simulations to interpret the world rapidly.
Consciousness: Examines consciousness as a limited spotlight on specific symbols within a non-conscious sea of information.
Memory: Details how sensory experiences are turned into emotionally charged symbols and consolidated through repetition.
The Perception by Defaults: Explores how we navigate familiar environments using habitual expectations to avoid collision and make decisions.
Recognition vs. Cognition: Contrasts routine recognition with the hesitant, analytical process of cognition in unfamiliar settings.
Free Will: Discusses the nature of conscious intent and the ability to veto non-consciously generated actions.
The Scales of the Lady Justice: Uses the metaphor of planning in wilderness to describe how we combine habitual actions into coherent plans.
Non-monotonic Logic: Connects cognitive reasoning processes with formal logic systems that allow for belief revision.
Kolmogorov’s Complexity: Applies mathematical principles of data compression to how the brain manages and abstracts memories.
The Triangle of Perception: Defines the three-pronged developmental basis of perception: genome/epigenome, culture, and personal experience.
Early Development: Reviews the early stages of perceptual growth from fetal sensations to infant exploration.
Social Aspects: Explains the development of the social self and empathy through interaction with others.
What Could Go Wrong: Addresses potential disruptions in the development of social consciousness, such as the cycle of domestic violence.
Reality?...: Investigates the philosophical question of whether our emergent perceptions represent objective reality.
Keywords
Active Perception Theory, Cognition, Consciousness, Default Percepts, Epigenome, Free Will, Habitual Actions, Kolmogorov Complexity, Memory, Mental Simulation, Non-monotonic Logic, Perception, Qualia, Situated Cognition, Social Aspects
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this publication?
The work explores the Active Perception Theory, which posits that humans do not merely receive sensory input but actively simulate their environment based on prior expectations.
What are the primary fields integrated in this analysis?
It draws upon cognitive psychology, neuroscience, developmental psychology, anthropology, and artificial intelligence, specifically neural networks and logic systems.
What is the main goal of the research presented?
The goal is to demonstrate that perception is an active, ongoing construction of reality rather than a passive, reactive process.
Which scientific methodology does the author employ?
The author synthesizes interdisciplinary findings from clinical studies, biological observations, and mathematical theories to formalize a model of human perceptual behavior.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The text covers memory consolidation, the distinction between recognition and cognition, the role of epigenetics in human development, and the impact of culture on cognitive processing.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Active Perception, Consciousness, Epigenome, Default Percepts, and Mental Simulation.
How does the author explain the "spotlight" metaphor of consciousness?
The author uses the spotlight metaphor to illustrate that consciousness is limited in capacity, focusing only on a few vital symbols while a much larger non-conscious process manages the rest of the information.
How does the theory address the concept of free will?
It interprets free will as the capacity to consciously veto or abort default actions that are generated non-consciously by our brain's internal simulations.
- Quote paper
- Damir Ibrisimovic (Author), 2010, An Overview of the Active Perception Theory, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/190057
