Echoes of the Prior: A Computational Phenomenology of Forgetting 42
Gege Gao, Bernhard Schölkopf, Andreas Geiger
Proceedings of the ACM on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques June 29, 2026 DOI: 10.1145/3816072 via OpenAlex
Summary
Memory is not merely data storage but the scaffolding of reality; as biological memory fades, the world regresses into unrecognizable chaos. Echoes of the Prior is an interactive installation that visualizes the subjective phenomenology of forgetting by inducing controlled synaptic decay within a Feed-Forward 3D Reconstruction model, creating an artistic analogy for the erosion of the brain's predictive priors. The neural network serves as a cognitive proxy—a silicon brain whose structural degeneration evokes the disorienting, poetic, and terrifying experience of losing one's grip on the world. This framework invites exploration of neuromorphic aesthetics in visualizing the fragility of intelligence.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Phenomenology philosophy Forgetting Neuromorphic engineering Cognition Analogy |
| Key finding | Controlled synaptic decay in a Feed-Forward 3D Reconstruction model creates an artistic analogy for the subjective experience of forgetting. |
Abstract
Memory is not merely the storage of data; it is the scaffolding of reality. When biological memory fades, the world does not simply turn black; it regresses into an unrecognizable chaos. Echoes of the Prior is an interactive installation that attempts to visualize this subjective phenomenology of forgetting . By inducing controlled synaptic decay within a Feed-Forward 3D Reconstruction model, we create an artistic analogy for the erosion of the brain’s predictive priors. We position the Neural Network not as a tool for engineering, but as a cognitive proxy - a silicon brain whose structural degeneration evokes the disorienting, poetic, and terrifying experience of losing one’s grip on the world. Ultimately, we offer this framework as a catalyst, inviting the wider community to explore the uncharted potential of neuromorphic aesthetics in visualizing the fragility of intelligence. Interactive demo: https://decart-4d.github.io/.