This article focuses on how the idea of mental representations is understood in an influential modern research program in cognitive science - the program of predictive processing or predictive coding. It is pointed out that, as with earlier programs of classical cognitivism and connectionism, the idea of mental representations is also a crucial element of the program of predictive processing. According to the key assumption of this program, cognition is based on a rich internal generative model of reality that produces predictive perceptual and motor representations of what the organism can interact with at the next moment. The article considers possible challenges to this understanding of mental representations, coming from research in modern vision science and externalist approaches to memory, both in perception and in human practices, mediated by special intellectual artifacts. It is argued that there are no fundamental contradictions between these frameworks, which opens up opportunities for their interaction and integration.
Modern Vision Science for Designers
