The "Time-Loop" Model of Visual Perception

As an introspective observer, we are aware of an outlook from the cockpit of our ego into a spatially extended holistic visual-world representation with simultaneous awareness of all visible parts of the perceived environment. However, the neuronal network transforms spatial extension into temporally extended codes, being registered, e.g., as an oscillatory EEG pattern of successive phases or stages of brain activation. Since the temporal extension of perceptual processing is in a rather fundamental conflict with the internal psychophysics of real-time comprehension of ongoing events, the hypothesis of a "time-loop" model of visual perception is presented in order to handle the contradiction. Thus, the visual signal's recurrent processing is argued to be critically dependent on advanced anticipations of the next input in order to adjust its timing aspects in a way which stabilizes the equilibration of non-linear brain dynamics. In order to account for the coherence e.g. of binocular stereo vision, a synchronous visual flow in both left and right brain hemispheres is needed for. Thus, the temporally delayed information of the both eyes left and right visual hemi-fields, which are processed in different hemi spheres, should be integrated with anticipated versions of their complements in order to close the time gap. Departing from the standard computational approach to anticipation, our "time-loop" model is argued to account for some of the mentioned phenomena by a possible quantum-entanglement effect. From this point of view, the issues of visual processing under discussion may be reinterpreted based on the Wheeler-Feynman ab sorber approach. In line with the hypothesis of a transactional interpretation of quantum brain dynamics, we apply an anticipative resonance coupling approach to aspects of cortical synchronisation and recurrent ideomotor visual action control. In light of our hypothesis, recent findings about so-called mirror neurons in the brain cortex are suggested to be associated with temporal rather than spatial mirror functions of visual processing in phase conjugate adaptive resonance, known from non-linear optics. Therefore, it is proposed to consider the registered coherence patterns of neuronal synfire chains' discharge streams (which should be related to the EEG brain wave patterns of, e.g., evoked potentials after visual stimulation etc.) not only as a result of retarded brain communication processes. Rather they are suggested to be components of a standing waves system. The latter might be generated in the counterbalance of a "time loop" between the actual input's delayed bottom-up data streams and advanced anticipative signals from mirror neurons taking part in top-down recurrent processing.