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Psychosis and the Hypothesis Testing Brain (Talk, Durham University, 29 April 2015)

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By CentreForMedicalHumanities.org Research Team | Last verified: September 2026

Research Summary: Psychosis and the Hypothesis Testing Brain

Topic: Neuroscientific framework for understanding psychosis through predictive processing theory
Speaker & Institution: Dr Sam Wilkinson, Department of Philosophy, Durham University
Event Date & Location: Wednesday, April 29th 2015, 5:30–7:00 PM, Joachim Room, College of St Hild and St Bede, Durham University
Primary Framework: Predictive processing—conceptualizing the brain as a hypothesis-testing machine that selects models based on their capacity to predict neural activity
Clinical Application: Applied to elucidate diverse phenomena encompassed within psychotic disorders and experiences
Audience: Mental health professionals, service users, academic researchers, students, and psychosis service staff; open to all
Service User Support: £20 honorarium plus travelling expenses available for service users and families attending
Organizing Body: Joint Special Interest Group in Psychosis (JSIGP), Durham University and Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, established 2011

The next meeting of the Joint Special Interest Group in Psychosis (JSIGP), featuring a presentation by Dr Sam Wilkinson (Department of Philosophy, Durham University) on ‘Psychosis and the Hypothesis Testing Brain’ will be held on Wednesday April 29th 2015 from 5.30 – 7PM in the Joachim Room, College of St Hild and St Bede, Durham University (30 on this map).

Abstract: There is a recent framework in neuroscience – ‘the predictive processing framework’ – that aims to explain all aspects of human cognitive functioning. This framework takes the brain to be a hypothesis-testing machine. More specifically, the brain’s main task is to select hypotheses based on how well they predict future neural activity. In this talk, I start by presenting this framework as clearly and accessibly as I can, and contrast it with more traditional frameworks for understanding cognition. I then suggest ways in which it could be applied so as to provide us with a better understanding of the many different phenomena that fall under the category of ‘psychosis’.

About the Joint Special Interest Group in Psychosis The Durham University and Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust Joint Special Interest Group for Psychosis (JSIGP) was set up in 2011 with the aim of fostering dialogue between mental health professionals, service users, academic researchers and students. It is open to anyone, but meetings will be of particular interest to those staff working in ‘psychosis services’ or who are involved in research within the field. A warm welcome is also extended to any service users who would like to attend. The group meets on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of topics and speakers.

Service users and their families and friends who attend meetings of the Joint Special Interest Group for Psychosis can receive an honorarium of £20 plus travelling expenses. For more information and to obtain the relevant claim forms, please contact Valentina Short.

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