Veijo Virsu (1998) Efference Does not Foil Perception . Psycoloquy: 9(84) Efference Knowledge (10)
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Psycoloquy 9(84): Efference Does not Foil Perception

EFFERENCE DOES NOT FOIL PERCEPTION
Commentary on Jarvilehto on Efference-Knowledge

Veijo Virsu
Department of Psychology
P.O. Box 4 (Fabianinkatu 28)
FIN-00014
University of Helsinki
Finland

Simo Vanni
Brain Research Unit
Low Temperature Laboratory
Helsinki University of Technology
P.O. Box 2200
FIN-02015 HUT Finland.

veijo.virsu@helsinki.fi vanni@neuro.hut.fi

Abstract

The target article by Jarvilehto (1998) makes the valid empirical point that perception is not the simple, serial, one-way process it is often thought to be. However, we cannot agree with the conclusion that senses are not transmitters of environmental information. Perceptual systems have developed to subserve our actions, hence actions and intentions modify sensory signals at several levels of processing, but the senses can nevertheless be studied as transmitters of information, apart from actions. It is also valid to partition a system so as to study its role in isolation from the system as a whole.

Keywords

afference, artificial life, efference, epistemology, evolution, Gibson, knowledge, motor theory, movement, perception, receptors, robotics, sensation, sensorimotor systems, situatedness

References