TY - JOUR
T1 - Statistically optimal perception and learning
T2 - from behavior to neural representations
AU - Fiser, József
AU - Berkes, Pietro
AU - Orbán, Gergo
AU - Lengyel, Máté
PY - 2010/3
Y1 - 2010/3
N2 - Human perception has recently been characterized as statistical inference based on noisy and ambiguous sensory inputs. Moreover, suitable neural representations of uncertainty have been identified that could underlie such probabilistic computations. In this review, we argue that learning an internal model of the sensory environment is another key aspect of the same statistical inference procedure and thus perception and learning need to be treated jointly. We review evidence for statistically optimal learning in humans and animals, and re-evaluate possible neural representations of uncertainty based on their potential to support statistically optimal learning. We propose that spontaneous activity can have a functional role in such representations leading to a new, sampling-based, framework of how the cortex represents information and uncertainty.
AB - Human perception has recently been characterized as statistical inference based on noisy and ambiguous sensory inputs. Moreover, suitable neural representations of uncertainty have been identified that could underlie such probabilistic computations. In this review, we argue that learning an internal model of the sensory environment is another key aspect of the same statistical inference procedure and thus perception and learning need to be treated jointly. We review evidence for statistically optimal learning in humans and animals, and re-evaluate possible neural representations of uncertainty based on their potential to support statistically optimal learning. We propose that spontaneous activity can have a functional role in such representations leading to a new, sampling-based, framework of how the cortex represents information and uncertainty.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=76749113376&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.tics.2010.01.003
DO - 10.1016/j.tics.2010.01.003
M3 - Review Article
C2 - 20153683
AN - SCOPUS:76749113376
SN - 1364-6613
VL - 14
SP - 119
EP - 130
JO - Trends in Cognitive Sciences
JF - Trends in Cognitive Sciences
IS - 3
ER -