Perception and attention

Perception and attention refer to interconnected cognitive processes through which we become aware of and respond to our environment. Perception involves recognizing, interpreting, and organizing sensory information to understand objects, events, and relationships. Attention is the mechanism that selectively focuses our cognitive resources on certain aspects of that sensory input, enabling us to process relevant information more effectively while filtering out distractions. Together, they allow us to make sense of the world and prepare appropriate responses.

Adapted from the APA Dictionary of Psychology