Bayesian statistics: relevant for the brain?

- Bayesian statistics is a standard tool for modeling and data analysis.
- Allows combining past data with new evidence.
- In many cases people behave as predicted by Bayesian statistics.
- Models should progressively be combined with data.

Analyzing data from experiments involves variables that we neuroscientists are uncertain about. Efficiently calculating with such variables usually requires Bayesian statistics. As it is crucial when analyzing complex data, it seems natural that the brain would “use” such statistics to analyze data from the world. And indeed, recent studies in the areas of perception, action, and cognition suggest that Bayesian behavior is widespread, in many modalities and species. Consequently, many models have suggested that the brain is built on simple Bayesian principles. While the brain's code is probably not actually simple, I believe that Bayesian principles will facilitate the construction of faithful models of the brain.