Perceptual awareness and active inference.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Science
• Neuroscience
• Perception

Background:

• Perceptual awareness is linked to sensorium engagement.
• Active inference frames perception and action as inferential processes.
• Perception is viewed as hypothesis testing, and actions as evidence-gathering experiments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the active component of perception.
• To interpret perceptual phenomena like Troxler fading through active inference.
• To generalize active inference to include attentional actions.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of Troxler fading as a model for perceptual uncertainty.
• Application of active inference principles to explain perceptual phenomena.
• Extension of active inference to include oculomotor and attentional actions.

Main Results:

• Troxler fading illustrates percept dissipation without active interrogation.
• Perceptual uncertainty accumulation explains phenomena when exploration is disrupted.
• Active inference can explain perceptual changes without overt movement, as in binocular rivalry.

Conclusions:

• Perception and action are integrated inferential processes.
• Active exploration and attentional control are crucial for maintaining perceptual awareness.
• Active inference provides a unified framework for understanding perception and action.