We examine Dubois's (2003) distinction between weak anticipation and strong anticipation. Anticipation is weak if it arises from a model of the system via internal simulations. Anticipation is strong if it arises from the system itself via lawful regularities embedded in the system's ordinary mode of functioning. The assumption of weak anticipation dominates cognitive science and neuroscience and in particular the study of perception and action. The assumption of strong anticipation, however, seems to be required by anticipation's ubiquity. It is, for example, characteristic of homeostatic processes at the level of the organism, organs, and cells. We develop the formal distinction between strong and weak anticipation by elaboration of anticipating synchronization, a phenomenon arising from time delays in appropriately coupled dynamical systems. The elaboration is conducted in respect to (a) strictly physical systems, (b) the defining features of circadian rhythms, often viewed as paradigmatic of biological behavior based in internal models, (c) Pavlovian learning, and (d) forward models in motor control. We identify the common thread of strongly anticipatory systems and argue for its significance in furthering understanding of notions such as "internal", "model" and "prediction".

中文翻译：

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在强烈的期待中

我们研究了 Dubois (2003) 对弱预期和强预期的区别。如果预期是通过内部模拟从系统模型中产生的，则预期是微弱的。如果预期是通过嵌入在系统正常运作模式中的合法规律从系统本身产生的，那么它就是强烈的预期。弱预期的假设支配着认知科学和神经科学，尤其是对感知和行动的研究。然而，强烈预期的假设似乎是预期的普遍性所必需的。例如，它是生物体、器官和细胞水平的稳态过程的特征。我们通过对预期同步的详细说明来发展强预期和弱预期之间的正式区别，由适当耦合的动力系统中的时间延迟引起的现象。详细阐述是关于 (a) 严格的物理系统，(b) 昼夜节律的定义特征，通常被视为基于内部模型的生物行为的范例，(c) 巴甫洛夫学习，以及 (d) 运动中的前向模型控制。我们确定了强预期系统的共同点，并论证了它在进一步理解“内部”、“模型”和“预测”等概念方面的重要性。