Embodied predictive processing: A unifying generative principle for cognitive development

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Cognitive Science
• Robotics

Background:

• Human cognitive development is complex and non-linear, with diverse individual trajectories.
• Existing models often focus on isolated functions or static stages, failing to capture developmental variability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose Embodied Predictive Processing (EPP) as a unifying generative framework for cognitive development.
• To extend predictive processing principles to include bodily dynamics and social interaction.

Main Methods:

• Conceptualizing development as distributed prediction error minimization across brain-body-environment systems.
• Integrating evidence from developmental studies and constructive robotic models.

Main Results:

• Demonstrating how brain-body co-development drives cognitive change.
• Showing how body-grounded multimodal integration and social coordination contribute to developmental diversity.

Conclusions:

• Embodied Predictive Processing provides a mechanistic and empirically testable generative account of developmental dynamics.
• EPP unifies understanding of cognitive development, explaining both change and individual differences.