title: The free-energy self: a predictive coding account of self-recognition.
abstract: Recognising and representing one's self as distinct from others is a fundamental component of self-awareness. However, current theories of self-recognition are not embedded within global theories of cortical function and therefore fail to provide a compelling explanation of how the self is processed. We present a theoretical account of the neural and computational basis of self-recognition that is embedded within the free-energy account of cortical function. In this account one's body is processed in a Bayesian manner as the most likely to be "me". Such probabilistic representation arises through the integration of information from hierarchically organised unimodal systems in higher-level multimodal areas. This information takes the form of bottom-up "surprise" signals from unimodal sensory systems that are explained away by top-down processes that minimise the level of surprise across the brain. We present evidence that this theoretical perspective may account for the findings of psychological and neuroimaging investigations into self-recognition and particularly evidence that representations of the self are malleable, rather than fixed as previous accounts of self-recognition might suggest.
authors: Laboratory of Action and Body, Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK. Electronic address: m.apps@rhul.ac.uk.
authors: Matthew A J
authors: MA
authors: Apps
authors: Laboratory of Action and Body, Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK. Electronic address: manos.tsakiris@rhul.ac.uk.
authors: Manos
authors: M
authors: Tsakiris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007088:Illusions / Q000502:physiology; D008959:Models, Neurological; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D012649:Self Concept
keywords: Bayesian; Body ownership; Enfacement; Face recognition; Free energy; Prediction error; Predictive coding; Rubber hand illusion; Self-awareness; Self-recognition; Voice recognition