While our sensory receptors are constantly collecting information from the environment, it is ultimately how we interpret that information that affects how we interact with the
world. Perception refers to the
way sensory information is organized, interpreted, and consciously experienced. Perception involves both bottom-up and
top-down processing. Bottom-up processing refers to the fact that perceptions are built from sensory input. On the other
hand, how we interpret those sensations is influenced by our available knowledge, our experiences, and our thoughts. This is called
top-down processing.