We all interpret the world in different ways.
Our understanding of the world is based upon the interpretations we make from sensory information. Sensory organs absorb energy from an object in the environment and transform the energy into neural impulses. These impulses are interpreted and translated by our brain. Our ability to recognize an object quickly is a complex process, which influences our decisions to act. Our perceptions are unique; we select to look at some things, while we ignore other things.
Perceptual Process
Every day you perceive things. Some of these things are familiar, while others need to be interpreted and categorized. You feel, smell and touch objects, and recognize the sounds of old songs and the features of familiar faces. The perceptual processes are not direct. Instead, they depend on your expectations and previous knowledge, as well as the information available in the object itself. Our brain ensures the picture we receive from the world is stable despite the fact that we may receive incomplete information. We select what we want to focus on, and discriminate between what we think is important and not important.
Recognition
Recognition is the ability to interpret and give meaning to what we have perceived. You make sense of the world, and realize it was your workmate you saw in the shopping mall. Putting objects and experiences into different categories helps you make sense of the world, and recognize the object the next time you see it. Oftentimes, our attention is drawn to familiar things; you pick out your own shoe in a pile of shoes. Yet on other occasions, our attention is focused on finding stimuli that are novel, like when you see a new exotic-looking fruit in the supermarket. Awareness of what you are looking for helps you to quickly recognize or find an object.
Comparing Information
We constantly receive new information. Our brain searches and looks for a match so we can make sense of our perceptions. The brain has to compare the information to previously stored information, and match it completely or at least to a certain extent. We arrange information in patterns; this helps us to recognize objects, people and words. Exactly how this matching is carried out is debated. Some theories suggest that we recognize something by matching it to a template or a prototype. We could have a prototype of a big bird with feathers; when we perceive something with feathers, we take this a sign that we have seen an ostrich. Other theories suggest that we recognize certain distinctive features, and determine that some features are more important than others are.
Recognition of Faces
Face recognition is a fascinating recognition process where you are able to recognize familiar face in any orientation or lighting condition. Many of the processes involved in recognizing an object are similar to face recognition; however, there are special processes that are involved. You can recognize a face when the person is moving; this is a sense called proprioception.
Tags: make sense, make sense world, recognize object, sense world,