Top Down Processing Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Top Down Processing?

Top-down processing is a cognitive process in which the brain uses prior knowledge or experience to understand and interpret what is being seen or heard. This type of processing involves the utilization of existing information to make sense of new stimuli and can be contrasted with bottom-up processing, which utilizes sensory input to form perceptions. The term top-down processing was first coined by experimental psychologist Richard Gregory in his 1967 book, The Intelligent Eye. In this book he described how the brain processes visual information.