Perceptual "estimates" are identified representationally, as representations of specific distal sizes and depths.
In a Bayesian model, perceptual estimates take the form of probability distributions, rather than single, determinate values.
Recent studies of multisensory integration have shown that the reduced reliability of perceptual estimates regarding intersensory conflicts constitutes the marker of a stronger coupling between the unisensory signals.
Here we present an alternative Bayesian account, based on the idea that perceptual estimates are increasingly influenced by prior expectations as signals become more uncertain [ 12 15].
A recent approach to form a perceptual estimate of flicker has been discussed in [1].
In the MLE approach [7], sensory estimates of an environmental property can be represented by where is the physical property being estimated, is the operation the nervous system performs to derive the estimate, and is the perceptual estimate.
'Maximum-Likelihood Estimation' (MLE) is an optimal way of integrating different sources of sensory information, maximally reducing the variance of the final perceptual estimate.
Broadly speaking, there are two strategies for combining information: 'sensory cue combination', which maximises information from different sensory sources and 'sensory cue integration' which reduces the variance of the final perceptual estimate (Ernst & Bülthoff, 2004).
In these analyses, semantic memory (estimate = -0.84, SE = 0.31, p = 0.007), episodic memory (estimate = -0.53, SE = 0.24, p = 0.032), working memory (estimate = -0.58, SE = 0.22, p = 0.010), and perceptual speed (estimate = -0.42, SE = 0.21, p = 0.05) were negatively associated with risk aversion; visuospatial abilities were not.
Two specific cognitive abilities, perceptual speed (estimate = −0.32, SE = 0.11, p = 0.005) and visuospatial abilities (estimate = −0.33, SE. = 0.13, p = 0.009) were negatively associated with temporal discounting, but the other three domains (i.e., episodic memory, semantic memory and working memory) were not.
The perceptual depth-estimate has a representational content: it is accurate only if the object's depth is 5 meters.
