Expectation in perceptual decision making: neural and computational mechanisms

(Summerfield & De Lange, 2014)

The researchers approached the problem of isolated visual stimulus to measure perceptual decision making by suggesting that prediction of visual stimulus is more in keeping with a real-world situation (perceptual inference). They discuss how choices in the visual world are modulated by expectations. They do this by discussing studies that have used quantitative methods such as signal detection theory, sequential sampling frame2work and predictive coding thay investigate the  inclusion of expectations. They also look at data of brain imaging and single  cell recordings that show how epectations influence neral responses. Finally they look at the connections between expectation and other related concepts such as attention and adaptation.

They talk about research that has been undertaken that shows expectation biases in the pre-stimulus period and they suggest that responses of the sensory neurons are biased by expectations in the pre-stimulus period.

They state that “Visual expectation is closely related to visual attention69.(p. 751)” and that selective attention is often guided by expectation. In terms of repetition of stimulus, they suggest that visual signals are also autocorrelated temporally

MY NOTES

• NB p. 748 “ During visual associative learning, in which one visual stimulus predicts the next, neurons encoding the expected stimulus in both the inferotempo­ral cortex27,28 (for object stimuli) and visual area MT (also known as V5)29,30 (for motion stimuli; 3d) become active in the delay period that precedes its occurrence31.
• Check out “predictive coding”

REFERENCE

Summerfield, C., & De Lange, F. P. (2014). Expectation in perceptual decision making: Neural and computational mechanisms. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 15(11), 745–756.