Would this be an example of top-down processing?
I am at home, and I have left a room where a family member is sitting. I come back to this room awhile later and start having a conversation because I expect the family member to still be there because I did not hear him or her leave the room.
Thanks for any help! I am struggling to understand this topic.
Google top-down processing.
Dear Ms. Sue,
I appreciate your response:)
I have looked it up and from what I understand top-down processing is where your expectations guide the selection of information that you use in pattern recognition, so in related to this example, since I expected a family member to still be there I noticed the light is still on as if someone is in the room and I noticed that I didn't hear someone leave the room. Is that logic making sense? Or is that not an example of top-down processing?
Thanks again!
Would this be a better way to tune this example:
I heard a door open and close and assumed someone was home when they were not. I assumed this because of the time and factors like that.
I am trying to have an example of an error in top-down processing.
Yes, the scenario you described can be seen as an example of top-down processing.
To explain, top-down processing refers to the way our brains use preexisting knowledge, expectations, and context to interpret and understand sensory information. In this case, your expectation that the family member would still be in the room is guiding your perception of the situation.
To understand how top-down processing works here, consider the following steps:
1. Previous knowledge: You have the knowledge that when someone is in a room, they tend to stay there unless you receive information indicating otherwise (e.g., hearing them leave).
2. Expectation: Based on your previous knowledge and experience, you expect the family member to still be in the room because you didn't hear them leave.
3. Perception: When you return to the room, your brain's top-down processing mechanism kicks in. It relies on your expectation to interpret the situation. You start having a conversation, assuming the family member is still present.
However, it is important to note that this example might also involve some bottom-up processing. Bottom-up processing refers to the process of constructing a perception based solely on the sensory information received at the moment, without relying on prior knowledge or expectations. In this case, if you noticed visual or auditory cues that indicated the family member was no longer in the room (e.g., an empty seat, the absence of sounds indicating their presence), it would involve both bottom-up and top-down processing.
Understanding both top-down and bottom-up processing can help you comprehend how our brains perceive and interpret the world around us.