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Localized versus distributed encoding of sensory predictions and prediction errors

Determine whether sensory predictions and prediction error signals are encoded locally within specific cortical regions or distributed across multiple areas of the cortical hierarchy.

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Background

Large-scale recordings reveal synergistic relationships among error-related signals across cortical areas, suggesting non-linear, distributed interactions rather than solely local computations.

Clarifying the spatial organization of prediction and error encoding will guide models of hierarchical inference and inform interpretation of EEG/MEG/ECoG signatures.

References

In general, it is an open question whether sensory predictions and error signals are encoded in a localized or rather distributed manner.

— Neural mechanisms of predictive processing: a collaborative community experiment through the OpenScope program (2504.09614 - Aizenbud et al., 13 Apr 2025) in Section VII.3 Divergence and convergence between experiments and theories