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A nice surprise? Predictive processing and the active pursuit of novelty

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journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 17:08 authored by Andrew ClarkAndrew Clark
Recent work in cognitive and computational neuroscience depicts human brains as devices that minimize prediction error signals: signals that encode the difference between actual and expected sensory stimulations. This raises a series of puzzles whose common theme concerns a potential misfit between this bedrock informationtheoretic vision and familiar facts about the attractions of the unexpected. We humans often seem to actively seek out surprising events, deliberately harvesting novel and exciting streams of sensory stimulation. Conversely, we often experience some wellexpected sensations as unpleasant and to-be-avoided. In this paper, I explore several core and variant forms of this puzzle, using them to display multiple interacting elements that together deliver a satisfying solution. That solution requires us to go beyond the discussion of simple information-theoretic imperatives (such as 'minimize long-term prediction error') and to recognize the essential role of species-specific prestructuring, epistemic foraging, and cultural practices in shaping the restless, curious, novelty-seeking human mind.

Funding

ERC Advanced Grant XSPECT; ERC; DLV-692739

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences

ISSN

1568-7759

Publisher

Springer

Issue

3

Volume

17

Page range

521-534

Department affiliated with

  • Philosophy Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2019-03-25

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2019-03-25

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2019-03-22

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