[sbashyal]

I have a background in Machine Learning and it is my belief that the mind does use branch prediction. Take for example a scenario where you are climbing down a stair in your house. Your brain already predicts that you are about to land on the next step. Now if the step height was lowered than the usual, the prediction fails and you immediately focus back on the climbing-down process to see what has happened and prosecute whatever fall-back actions are needed to minimize disruption.

[randomacct44]

Reminds me of what happens when you step onto an escalator that isn't working (the broken escalator phenomenon):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broken_escalator_phenomenon

[argonaut]

Nitpick: having a background in machine learning is only slightly relevant to belief on what the mind does. It's having a background in neuroscience that's important.