<p>You are certainly not the first to conceive of intelligence as pattern analysis. In fact, there is a <a href="http://www.onintelligence.org/index.php">book</a> by Jeff Hawkins called "On Intelligence" which investigates this idea in depth. His idea is that the best candidate mechanism for intelligent brain function is <a href="http://homes.cs.washington.edu/~rao/predcoding2011.pdf">predictive coding</a>. </p>

<p>In the predictive coding framework, the job of the brain is not to continuously process all incoming information, but instead to continuously predict upcoming information: the brain is an inference machine. Predictive coding is a hierarchical process whereby a any stage in cognitive processing sends its prediction to a previous stage in processing via feedback connections. For example, if area V2 'expects' to see a square, it will send this information to area V1, which codes for line orientation. If the received input matches the expectation, the information is suppressed. The information now doesn't need to go any further than V1, because it has already been fully predicted, i.e. the brain already contains a representation of it. If, however, the input doesn't match the prediction, the mismatch, called prediction error, is transmitted further through the processing hierarchy. </p>

<p>Prediction error is considered the reason why surprising (invalidly predicted) stimuli lead to more neural activity than unsurprising (validly predicted) ones, for example in mismatch negativity paradigms.</p>

<p>The notion of expectation here is automatic, it is a function of each brain area and does not need to be conscious in the sense of us being aware that it's happening.</p>

<p>It is however important to note that this notion of intelligence is nothing like the notion of intelligence in psychology. In psychology, intelligence is a measure of individual differences between people. The predictive coding framework is, in contrast, posited as a general feature of the neocortex. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-22T14:30:38.947Z
2013-06-22T14:30:38.947Z
Ana
<p>The nature of intelligence is a highly controversial open question.</p>

<p>However your phrasing and use of the term "general intelligence" seems to indicate a g-factorist context to the question, so then, I would say the answer is "no".</p>

<p>Pattern recognition tests such as Raven's Progressive Matrices do load highly on the g-factor but things unrelated to pattern recognition load as well, such as reaction time.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-16T05:23:04.447Z
I don't think this question suggests a g-factorist context as much as an AGI and singularity movement context.
Artem Kaznatcheev
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-25T04:52:07.960Z
2013-06-25T04:52:07.960Z
John Henry
<p>I have been thinking for a while about general intelligence (i.e.,not specific abilities used for particular tasks such as chess).
I think that the essence of general intelligence is pattern analysis. I.e., the brain of any animal is a pattern analysis machine. The brain analyses patterns of sounds, lights, pressure, chemicals (in the nose and the tongue). More than that, it also analyse patterns of actions (body language, pattern in doing daily activities, etc etc).</p>

<ul>
<li>To what extent can intelligence be understood as pattern analysis?</li>
<li>Do any existing researchers conceptualise intelligence as pattern analysis?</li>
<li>What evidence is there to support conceptualising intelligence as pattern analysis?</li>
</ul>

<intelligence><artificial-intelligence>
Can general intelligence be understood as pattern analysis?
fasisi
# Can general intelligence be understood as pattern analysis?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-06-22)

I have been thinking for a while about general intelligence (i.e.,not specific abilities used for particular tasks such as chess).
I think that the essence of general intelligence is pattern analysis. I.e., the brain of any animal is a pattern analysis machine. The brain analyses patterns of sounds, lights, pressure, chemicals (in the nose and the tongue). More than that, it also analyse patterns of actions (body language, pattern in doing daily activities, etc etc).

* To what extent can intelligence be understood as pattern analysis?
* Do any existing researchers conceptualise intelligence as pattern analysis?
* What evidence is there to support conceptualising intelligence as pattern analysis?

**Tags:** intelligence, artificial-intelligence


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-06-22. Score: 8

You are certainly not the first to conceive of intelligence as pattern analysis. In fact, there is a [book](http://www.onintelligence.org/index.php) by Jeff Hawkins called "On Intelligence" which investigates this idea in depth. His idea is that the best candidate mechanism for intelligent brain function is [predictive coding](http://homes.cs.washington.edu/~rao/predcoding2011.pdf).

In the predictive coding framework, the job of the brain is not to continuously process all incoming information, but instead to continuously predict upcoming information: the brain is an inference machine. Predictive coding is a hierarchical process whereby a any stage in cognitive processing sends its prediction to a previous stage in processing via feedback connections. For example, if area V2 'expects' to see a square, it will send this information to area V1, which codes for line orientation. If the received input matches the expectation, the information is suppressed. The information now doesn't need to go any further than V1, because it has already been fully predicted, i.e. the brain already contains a representation of it. If, however, the input doesn't match the prediction, the mismatch, called prediction error, is transmitted further through the processing hierarchy.

Prediction error is considered the reason why surprising (invalidly predicted) stimuli lead to more neural activity than unsurprising (validly predicted) ones, for example in mismatch negativity paradigms.

The notion of expectation here is automatic, it is a function of each brain area and does not need to be conscious in the sense of us being aware that it's happening.

It is however important to note that this notion of intelligence is nothing like the notion of intelligence in psychology. In psychology, intelligence is a measure of individual differences between people. The predictive coding framework is, in contrast, posited as a general feature of the neocortex.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2013-06-25. Score: 1

The nature of intelligence is a highly controversial open question.

However your phrasing and use of the term "general intelligence" seems to indicate a g-factorist context to the question, so then, I would say the answer is "no".

Pattern recognition tests such as Raven's Progressive Matrices do load highly on the g-factor but things unrelated to pattern recognition load as well, such as reaction time.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: I don't think this question suggests a g-factorist context as much as an AGI and singularity movement context.  

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