how do we anticipate?

[miriam_e]

I can imagine the kind of neural structure that would recognise timed sequences. Incoming sensory signals would get delayed by some neurons and continue on be pattern matched by other neurons that are responding in real-time or are delayed from even earlier signals. A whole sequence could be gathered together like this over several seconds. Simple enough.

But how does this give rise to the common experience of hearing a part of a song and "hearing" in your head the part that comes next, some seconds before it happens? Everybody has experienced the effect of beginning to sing the next track during the interval between tracks on a much-played disc.

It is easy to see the adaptive use of such a system. It would let you pre-empt your prey's or enemy's moves. But how does it work?

It has me quite puzzled.