Recent News

Conference Homepage: https://predcommlab.github.io/symposium-2026/#about
Upcoming Events
<i>Philosophy</i> <br>Lukas Kob (Czech Academy of Sciences) <br><b>Holistic Representations in Large Language Models</b>
Workshop:<br><b>Perception-Thought Transitions</b>
<i>Psychology</i> <br>Michael Levin (Tufts University) <br><b>Model systems for diverse intelligence research: technological approach to minds everywhere</b>
<i>Biopsychology</i> <br>Merel Jager (RUB) <br><b>Reality, survivorship bias, smooth sailing & the paradox of individuality</b>
<i>Psychology</i> <br>Katja Langer (RUB) <br><b>Accute stress effects on flexible emotion regulation choices: The moderation of working memory capacity </b>
<i>Philosophy</i> <br>Gualtiero Piccinini (University of Missouri) <br><b>Thought as an Inner Navigation: A Neurocognitive Architecture for Propositional Thought</b>
Relevant Publications
For full list of selected publications, see the publications page
The role of episodic memory in causal reasoning with counterfactuals: A perspective from predictive processing and trace minimalism
From Gut Feeling to Gray Matter: Mapping Defecation Urgency in Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Single neuron responses in NCL, MVL, and Wulst during the observation of videos of conspecifics support population feature coding
Selective spatial attention to competing speakers in azimuth and depth: Evidence from real and virtual environments
Neural subspace reorganization reflects value-based decision-making
A computationally efficient music processing algorithm for cochlear implants based on an auditory adaptation model
Enhancing metacomprehension accuracy and regulation decisions in writing from multiple texts: The role of rubrics
A computationally efficient music processing algorithm for cochlear implants based on an auditory adaptation model
Loops all the way up: Recurrency as an implementation-first primitive for consciousness
Reading media and multitasking: effects on comprehension and metacomprehension when reading multiple texts
Neurite density but not myelination of specific fiber tracts links polygenic scores to general intelligence
Abstract White matter is fundamental for efficient information transfer and thus crucial for intelligence. Previous studies demonstrated associations between fractional anisotropy and intelligence, but it remains unclear whether this relation is due to greater axon density, parallel, homogenous fiber orientation …
Predictive processing’s flirt with transcendental idealism
Abstract The popular predictive processing (PP) framework posits prediction error minimization (PEM) as the sole mechanism in the brain that can account for all mental phenomena, including consciousness. I first highlight three ambitions associated with major presentations of PP: (1) …
Costly pain avoidance and its impact on the modulation and extinction of visceral pain-related fear
Abstract Along the gut-brain axis, visceral pain demonstrably evokes emotional learning and memory processes shaping behavior in clinically relevant ways. Avoidance motivated by learned fear may constitute a major obstacle to treatment success in extinction-based interventions. However, the effects of …
Prior knowledge activation as preparation prior to instruction: does the coverage of relevant prior knowledge affect learning?
Abstract Two-phase instructional designs such as Productive and Vicarious Failure employ preparatory activities before explicit instruction. It is assumed that during this preparatory activity, students need to activate their prior knowledge in order to be prepared for subsequent instruction. However, …
Epigenetic markers of disease risk and psychotherapy response in anxiety disorders – a longitudinal analysis of the DNA methylome
Abstract Epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation are hypothesized to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders and to predict as well as relate to treatment response. An epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) (Illumina MethylationEPIC BeadChip) was performed …
Interindividual Variability in Memory Performance Is Related to Corticothalamic Networks during Memory Encoding and Retrieval
Encoding new memories relies on functional connections between the medial temporal lobe and the frontoparietal cortices. Multiscan fMRI showed changes in these functional connections before and after memory encoding, potentially influenced by the thalamus. As different thalamic nuclei are interconnected …
Positive mental health predicts amelioration of suicidal ideation in patients undergoing cognitive behavioral therapy
Background Positive mental health has been shown to confer resilience against suicidal ideation and behavior. Yet, studies on treatment seeking populations are rare. The aim of the present study was to investigate, whether PMH predicts the amelioration of suicidal ideation …
The multidimensional profile methodology (MPM) for comparative cognition: towards a universal strategy of understanding animal minds
Abstract How can we develop an adequate scientific understanding of the minds of nonhuman animals? We argue for a methodology based on multi-dimensional profile accounts. Such accounts are already used for the comparative study of norm cognition, consciousness, empathy and …

