Predictive Coding

Predictive coding, also called predictive processing, is a neuroscience theory suggesting the brain predicts sensory input before it receives it, creating a mental model of the environment to compare what’s predicted with what’s actual (carrying an umbrella seeing dark clouds but no rain). Neural signals convey the difference between predicted and observed stimuli. It’s efficient since the brain doesn’t need to store multiple versions of the same information and a crucial part of functioning in a dynamic world. The theory has mixed results.