AUTHOR=Kiebel Stefan J., Daunizeau Jean , Friston Karl J. TITLE=Perception and hierarchical dynamics JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neuroinformatics VOLUME=3 YEAR=2009 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroinformatics/articles/10.3389/neuro.11.020.2009 DOI=10.3389/neuro.11.020.2009 ISSN=1662-5196 ABSTRACT=

In this paper, we suggest that perception could be modeled by assuming that sensory input is generated by a hierarchy of attractors in a dynamic system. We describe a mathematical model which exploits the temporal structure of rapid sensory dynamics to track the slower trajectories of their underlying causes. This model establishes a proof of concept that slowly changing neuronal states can encode the trajectories of faster sensory signals. We link this hierarchical account to recent developments in the perception of human action; in particular artificial speech recognition. We argue that these hierarchical models of dynamical systems are a plausible starting point to develop robust recognition schemes, because they capture critical temporal dependencies induced by deep hierarchical structure. We conclude by suggesting that a fruitful computational neuroscience approach may emerge from modeling perception as non-autonomous recognition dynamics enslaved by autonomous hierarchical dynamics in the sensorium.