Perception

Perception is our ability and to receive, organize, and process information in a way that gives us understanding. Whether the information is sensory input (like sight, sound, or touch) or whether it is abstract concepts (such as a math problem), we each perceive things in a unique way based on our own history, experiences, and memories. Our powers of perception are the focus of many fields of study from science to mysticism, all of which are interested in unraveling the keys of how hour minds automatically try to fit new information into meaningful patterns, even if that information is incomplete or ambiguous. Understanding how our minds work can help us appreciate our hard-working brains—even when they get things wrong—and help us avoid common mistakes our brains make in our thought patterns.