The Computational Anatomy of Psychosis
University College London · National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery · +2 more institutions
Abstract
This paper considers psychotic symptoms in terms of false inferences or beliefs. It is based on the notion that the brain is an inference machine that actively constructs hypotheses to explain or predict its sensations. This perspective provides a normative (Bayes-optimal) account of action and perception that emphasizes probabilistic representations; in particular, the confidence or precision of beliefs about the world. We will consider hallucinosis, abnormal eye movements, sensory attenuation deficits, catatonia, and delusions as various expressions of the same core pathology: namely, an aberrant encoding of precision. From a cognitive perspective, this represents a pernicious failure of metacognition…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 371.37
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 158
Authors
5- RARick A. AdamsCorresponding
University College London, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging
- KΕKlaas Ε. Stephan
University College London, Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University of Zurich, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
- HRHarriet R. Brown
University College London, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging
- CFChris Frith
University College London, Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
- KFKarl Friston
University College London, Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
Topics & keywords
- Psychology
- Inference
- Bayes' theorem
- Perception
- Cognition
- Cognitive psychology
- Bayesian inference
- Normative
- Peace, Justice and strong institutions