Role of perception in processing an interpreting sensory information

perception

process we use to interpret and give meaning to sensory information, this results in the conscious experience of ourselves and the world

top-down processing

perceptual process starts ‘at the top’ with higher level ‘processing’ in the brain and then works ‘down’ from the whole to the details →involes using pre-existing mental models to guide perception and understanding

top-down processing examples

Is that something I have seen before?

• seeing a chair you have stubbed your toe on before and avoiding it to ensure it doesn’t happen again

• the ability to navigate around your room in the dark

• when going for a walk in your neighbourhood on a dark night, a small vaguely seen blob on the end of a leash is recognised as a dog

bottom-up processing

perceptual process starts ‘at the bottom’ with raw sensory information that is sent ‘up’ to the brain for higher level mental ‘processing’

bottom-up processing examples

What am I seeing?

• seeing a mosquito, interpreting it, and then swatting it

• stubbing your toe on a chair while walking in a dark space, then processing that a chair is there

• You’re running out the door to meet a friend for lunch. As you walk to your car, a brisk breeze hits your face. The sky is dark, and you hear thunder. You’d better grab an umbrella!

sensory triggers for top-down procesing

• past experience

• knowledge

• expectations

sensory triggers for bottom-up processing

• touch

• taste

• smell

• hear

• see