Figure 1.

Hypothesis concerning prediction error associated with predicted, mispredicted, and unpredicted stimuli. Boxes represent stimulus dimensions. Coloring of the box represents the intensity of representation. Length of the arrow represents the intensity of prediction error (i.e., the discrepancy between prediction and sensory input). A, Predicted stimuli trigger minimum prediction error because a fulfilled prediction can explain away all the prediction error (Arnal and Giraud, 2012). B, Predicted stimuli trigger medium prediction error because the representation of prediction is based on codes that are to a certain degree imprecise. C, Predicted stimuli trigger medium prediction error because the representation of prediction mimics the regularities of the environment. In this example, one stimulus is predicted to be the most likely, but two other stimuli are also considered to be possible with lower probabilities.