Your Brain Predicts Reality Before You Even Perceive It!

Most people think the brain works like a camera—passively recording the world around us, processing information, and reacting in real time... But that’s not true.

Your brain is actually more like a prediction engine—constantly forecasting what’s about to happen before it even receives sensory input. It doesn’t just wait for your eyes, ears, and body to send signals—it guesses what’s coming next, then adjusts based on feedback.

This predictive processing is the foundation of how we move, learn, and think. It’s also why your brain sometimes tricks you into seeing, hearing, or remembering things incorrectly.

The Science of Brain Predictions: How It Works

Your brain’s primary job is survival—and survival requires speed. If we had to process every bit of incoming information from scratch, we’d be too slow to react.

Instead, your brain builds models based on past experiences, using these models to:

• Predict what will happen next

• Focus on what’s important while ignoring the rest

• Detect errors & update predictions when reality doesn’t match

This happens on multiple levels:

1. Sensory Predictions – Your brain “fills in” missing details.
   🔹 Example: You’re reading a sentence, but a word is missing. You still understand it because your brain fills in the gap.

2. Motor Predictions – Your brain prepares movements before they happen.
   🔹 Example: You don’t think about each step when walking—you just do it because your brain predicts where your foot will land.

3. Memory & Cognitive Predictions – Your brain anticipates patterns.
   🔹 Example: You finish someone’s sentence before they say it because your brain has learned speech patterns.

Most of the time, these predictions are incredibly accurate—but they can also lead to errors, like:
❌ Optical illusions (your brain fills in missing details incorrectly)
❌ False memories (your brain misinterprets past experiences)
❌ Hearing things that weren’t said (your brain guesses words before fully processing them)

The Key to Training Your Brain: Strengthening Predictive Processing

Since our brains rely so much on predictions, the key to keeping them sharp is to challenge and refine those predictions.

That’s why I design my course Train Your Brain with Dr. Loïse. It is a FREE 4-week course designed to enhance brain function using science-backed strategies.

Here are 3 ways you can start training your predictive brain today:

1. Move in Unfamiliar Ways
   Your brain predicts movement patterns, so breaking routines forces it to adapt and build new pathways.
   💡 Try this: Brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand or walk backward for a few steps.

2. Play with Perception
   Your brain filters sensory input, so changing perspectives sharpens cognitive flexibility.
   💡 Try this: Watch a video upside down or listen to a familiar song in a different language.

3. Strengthen Cognitive Resilience
   Your brain adapts to challenges, so mentally demanding tasks keep it agile.
   💡 Try this: Read a book aloud, practice dual-tasking exercises, or learn a line dancing routine.

   

Ready to Train Your Brain for Peak Performance?

In Train Your Brain with Dr. Loïse, we’ll dive into:

• The neuroscience of focus, memory and stress

• Cognitive exercises that boost focus & mental flexibility

• Practical habits to future-proof your brain—all in just 4 weeks!

⏳ We start on March 3rd! Enrollment closes soon.

Know someone who wants to stay sharp, focused, and improve their brain health? Share this email to them!

Let’s train our brains together,

Dr. Loïse

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