Guessing the Future and the Past: How Our Brains Handle Predictions

Our Brains' Predictive Powers

Our brains are constantly engaged in forward prediction, anticipating what will happen next. This process is crucial for learning and understanding our surroundings. We rely on past and current experiences to make these educated guesses. When reality doesn't match our expectations, we adjust our predictions, refining our understanding.

The Surprising Role of Backward Prediction

Interestingly, our brains are also adept at backward prediction. This involves deducing what likely occurred in the past based on current events. Research indicates that we learn backward predictions just as effectively as forward ones. This raises the question: are forward predictions truly unique?

The Difference Between Forward and Backward Predictions

Both types of predictions aid in learning. However, when it comes to perception, we only recall future predictions, not past ones. This suggests that our brains prioritize future predictions in our perception of the world.

The Importance of Future Predictions

Why do our brains focus on future predictions for perception? One possibility is that planning for the future is more critical for survival. Alternatively, it might simply be easier for our brains to process. Regardless of the reason, both forward and backward predictions play vital roles in how we learn and perceive the world.