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In this paper we develop a general framework for constructing and analyzing coupled Markov chain Monte Carlo samplers, allowing for both (possibly degenerate) diffusion and piecewise deterministic Markov processes. For many performance criteria of interest, including the asymptotic variance, the task of finding efficient couplings can be phrased in terms of problems related to optimal transport theory. We investigate general structural properties, proving a singularity theorem that has both geometric and probabilistic interpretations. Moreover, we show that those problems can often be solved approximately and support our findings with numerical experiments. For the particular objective of estimating the variance of a Bayesian posterior, our analysis suggests using novel techniques in the spirit of antithetic variates. Addressing the convergence to equilibrium of coupled processes we furthermore derive a modified Poincare inequality.
This thesis aims at presenting in an organized fashion the required basics to understand the Glauber dynamics as a way of simulating configurations according to the Gibbs distribution of the Curie-Weiss Potts model. Therefore, essential aspects of discrete-time Markov chains on a finite state space are examined, especially their convergence behavior and related mixing times. Furthermore, special emphasis is placed on a consistent and comprehensive presentation of the Curie-Weiss Potts model and its analysis. Finally, the Glauber dynamics is studied in general and applied afterwards in an exemplary way to the Curie-Weiss model as well as the Curie-Weiss Potts model. The associated considerations are supplemented with two computer simulations aiming to show the cutoff phenomenon and the temperature dependence of the convergence behavior.
Process-oriented theories of cognition must be evaluated against time-ordered observations. Here we present a representative example for data assimilation of the SWIFT model, a dynamical model of the control of fixation positions and fixation durations during natural reading of single sentences. First, we develop and test an approximate likelihood function of the model, which is a combination of a spatial, pseudo-marginal likelihood and a temporal likelihood obtained by probability density approximation Second, we implement a Bayesian approach to parameter inference using an adaptive Markov chain Monte Carlo procedure. Our results indicate that model parameters can be estimated reliably for individual subjects. We conclude that approximative Bayesian inference represents a considerable step forward for computational models of eye-movement control, where modeling of individual data on the basis of process-based dynamic models has not been possible so far.