Pattern theory: the mathematics of perception
Numerical Analysis
2025-10-20 v1 Numerical Analysis
Statistics Theory
Statistics Theory
Abstract
Is there a mathematical theory underlying intelligence? Control theory addresses the output side, motor control, but the work of the last 30 years has made clear that perception is a matter of Bayesian statistical inference, based on stochastic models of the signals delivered by our senses and the structures in the world producing them. We will start by sketching the simplest such model, the hidden Markov model for speech, and then go on illustrate the complications, mathematical issues and challenges that this has led to.
Cite
@article{arxiv.math/0212400,
title = {Pattern theory: the mathematics of perception},
author = {David Mumford},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:math/0212400},
year = {2025}
}