Perception

Perception

Perception is the process by which organisms interpret and organize sensation to produce a meaningful experience of the world. Perception involves signals in the nervous system, which result from physical or chemical stimulation of the sensory system. For example, vision involves light striking the retina of the eye, smell is mediated by odor molecules, and hearing involves pressure waves.

Types of Perception

Perception is not only the passive receipt of these signals, but it's also shaped by the recipient's learning, memory, expectation, and attention. Perception can be split into two processes:

Processing the sensory input, which transforms these low-level information to higher-level information (e.g., extracts shapes for object recognition). Processing which is connected with a person's concepts and expectations (or knowledge), and selective mechanisms (attention) that influence perception.

Perception and Reality

Perception and the perceived reality can be as different as night and day. Perception is not a direct mirroring of the world, but a complex process of construction by the brain, influenced by various internal and external factors. Perception involves the brain's attempt to make sense of the incoming sensory input, based on past experiences, expectations, and the context in which the input is received.

Perception in Different Fields

Perception is studied in various fields, including psychology, neurobiology, and cognitive science. These disciplines are interested in understanding how perception leads to the rich and detailed conscious experiences that we all have, as well as how perception guides our actions.

See also

• Sensation (psychology)
• Cognitive psychology
• Perceptual psychology
• Visual perception
• Auditory perception

References

Perception Resources
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