Exploration of the relationship between perception and cognition under the prediction error minimization framework

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K12942
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 01010:Philosophy and ethics-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Metropolitan University (2020-2023); Nagoya University of Foreign Studies (2019)
• Principal Investigator: Sato Ryoji 東京都立大学, 大学教育センター, 准教授 (90815466)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 予測誤差最小化 / 自由エネルギー原理 / 陰謀論

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research, various mental processes related to perception and higher cognition and their interactions are studied from the perspective of predictive error minimization. Through hosting international workshops and paper publication, I particularly explored the possibility of unconscious perception and conducted comprehensive studies on the dissemination mechanisms of conspiracy theories. Especially in my research on conspiracy theories, I demonstrated that embracing certain beliefs involves not only cognitive elements but emotional and social elements also play a significant role.

Free Research Field

哲学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は予測誤差最小化理論の含意の探究や、知覚と高次認知の間の相互作用の解明に貢献した。本研究の成果は、哲学や認知科学双方に資するものであると言える。また、陰謀論の拡散は現代の喫緊の課題の一つであるが、その情動的・社会学的側面の解明は、情報の社会的伝播と個人の信念形成のプロセス理解を促進するだけでなく、公共の議論や政策形成に具体的な示唆を与えうるものであった。