Bayesian brain hypothesis

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Author-approved definition.

Definition

Bayesian brain hypothesis (Friston, Clark). The hypothesis that the brain performs probabilistic inference about the causes of sensory input, combining prior expectations with incoming evidence to update its estimates of the world. It describes a general principle of perception under uncertainty rather than a specific neural mechanism. Predictive processing proposes a more specific hierarchical architecture of prediction and error correction, while active inference extends the inferential framework to action.

RB2 — The Real Book, Volume II: Becoming Is Being

Book scope recorded in the author-approved amendment; a separate treatment has not been supplied.

Occurrence locators: 107, 113.

Sense distinctions

Author definition

Bayesian brain hypothesis (Friston, Clark). The hypothesis that the brain performs probabilistic inference about the causes of sensory input, combining prior expectations with incoming evidence to update its estimates of the world. It describes a general principle of perception under uncertainty rather than a specific neural mechanism. Predictive processing proposes a more specific hierarchical architecture of prediction and error correction, while active inference extends the inferential framework to action.

Author-approved scope: RB2.

Background used in the editorial explanation

The exact author-approved definition, sense distinctions and RB2 scope are preserved; independently verified locators are established.