Perceptual experience is influenced both by incoming sensory information and prior knowledge about the world, a concept recently formalised within Bayesian decision theory. We propose that Bayesian models can be applied to autism - a neurodevelopmental condition with atypicalities in sensation and perception - to pinpoint fundamental differences in perceptual mechanisms. We suggest specifically that attenuated Bayesian priors - 'hypo-priors' - may be responsible for the unique perceptual experience of autistic people, leading to a tendency to perceive the world more accurately rather than modulated by prior experience. In this account, we consider how hypo-priors might explain key features of autism - the broad range of sensory and other non-social atypicalities - in addition to the phenomenological differences in autistic perception.
When the world becomes ‘too real’: a Bayesian explanation of autistic perception / Elizabeth Pellicano;David Burr. - In: TRENDS IN COGNITIVE SCIENCES. - ISSN 1364-6613. - ELETTRONICO. - 16:(2012), pp. 504-510. [10.1016/j.tics.2012.08.009]
When the world becomes ‘too real’: a Bayesian explanation of autistic perception
BURR, DAVID CHARLES
2012
Abstract
Perceptual experience is influenced both by incoming sensory information and prior knowledge about the world, a concept recently formalised within Bayesian decision theory. We propose that Bayesian models can be applied to autism - a neurodevelopmental condition with atypicalities in sensation and perception - to pinpoint fundamental differences in perceptual mechanisms. We suggest specifically that attenuated Bayesian priors - 'hypo-priors' - may be responsible for the unique perceptual experience of autistic people, leading to a tendency to perceive the world more accurately rather than modulated by prior experience. In this account, we consider how hypo-priors might explain key features of autism - the broad range of sensory and other non-social atypicalities - in addition to the phenomenological differences in autistic perception.I documenti in FLORE sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.