Editing Bottom-up and top-down design (section)

=== Neuroscience and psychology ===
[[Image:TheCat.png|thumb|right|An example of top-down processing: Even though the second letter in each word is ambiguous, top-down processing allows for easy disambiguation based on the context.]]

These terms are also employed in [[Cognitive science|cognitive sciences]] including [[neuroscience]], [[cognitive neuroscience]] and [[cognitive psychology]] to discuss the flow of information in processing.{{sfn|Palmer|Rosch|Chase|1981|p=}}{{page needed |date=March 2017}} Typically, [[Sensory system|sensory]] input is considered bottom-up, and [[Executive functions|higher cognitive processes]], which have more information from other sources, are considered top-down. A bottom-up process is characterized by an absence of higher-level direction in sensory processing, whereas a top-down process is characterized by a high level of direction of sensory processing by more cognition, such as goals or targets (Biederman, 19).<ref name="autogenerated1"/>{{failed verification|date=November 2024}}

According to college teaching notes written by Charles Ramskov,{{who|date=March 2017}} Irvin Rock, Neiser, and Richard Gregory claim that the top-down approach involves perception that is an active and constructive process.{{sfn|Ramskov|2008|p=67}}{{better source needed|date=March 2017}} Additionally, it is an approach not directly given by stimulus input, but is the result of stimulus, internal hypotheses, and expectation interactions. According to theoretical synthesis, "when a stimulus is presented short and clarity is uncertain that gives a vague stimulus, perception becomes a top-down approach."<ref name="autogenerated1935">{{cite web |url=http://psychclassics.asu.edu/Stroop/ |title=Classics in the History of Psychology – Stroop (1935) |publisher=Psychclassics.asu.edu |date=August 15, 1934 |access-date=October 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140119172853/http://psychclassics.asu.edu/Stroop/ |archive-date=January 19, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Conversely, psychology defines bottom-up processing as an approach in which there is a progression from the individual elements to the whole. According to Ramskov, one proponent of bottom-up approach, Gibson, claims that it is a process that includes visual perception that needs information available from proximal stimulus produced by the distal stimulus.{{sfn|Ramskov|2008|p=}}{{page needed|date=March 2017}}{{better source needed|date=March 2017}}{{sfn|Solso|1998|p=15}} Theoretical synthesis also claims that bottom-up processing occurs "when a stimulus is presented long and clearly enough."<ref name="autogenerated1935"/>

Certain cognitive processes, such as fast reactions or quick visual identification, are considered bottom-up processes because they rely primarily on sensory information, whereas processes such as [[motor system|motor]] control and [[Overt attention|directed attention]] are considered top-down because they are goal directed. Neurologically speaking, some areas of the brain, such as area [[Visual cortex#Primary visual cortex (V1)|V1]] mostly have bottom-up connections.<ref name="autogenerated1935"/> Other areas, such as the [[fusiform gyrus]] have inputs from higher brain areas and are considered to have top-down influence.{{sfn|Ramskov|2008|p=81}}{{better source needed|date=March 2017}}

The study of [[Attention|visual attention]] is an example. If your attention is drawn to a flower in a field, it may be because the color or shape of the flower are visually salient. The information that caused you to attend to the flower came to you in a bottom-up fashion—your attention was not contingent on knowledge of the flower: the outside stimulus was sufficient on its own. Contrast this situation with one in which you are looking for a flower. You have a representation of what you are looking for. When you see the object, you are looking for, it is salient. This is an example of the use of top-down information.

In cognition, two thinking approaches are distinguished. "Top-down" (or "big chunk") is stereotypically the visionary, or the person who sees the larger picture and overview. Such people focus on the big picture and from that derive the details to support it. "Bottom-up" (or "small chunk") cognition is akin to focusing on the detail primarily, rather than the landscape. The expression "seeing the wood for the trees" references the two styles of cognition.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Biederman | first1 = I. | last2 = Glass | first2 = A. L. | last3 = Stacy | first3 = E. W. | year = 1973 | title = Searching for objects in real world scenes | journal = Journal of Experimental Psychology | volume = 97 | issue = 1| pages = 22–27 | doi=10.1037/h0033776| pmid = 4704195 }}</ref>

Studies in task switching and response selection show that there are differences through the two types of processing. Top-down processing primarily focuses on the attention side, such as task repetition.{{sfn|Schneider|2015}}{{page needed |date=May 2025}} Bottom-up processing focuses on item-based learning, such as finding the same object over and over again.{{sfn|Schneider|2015}} 
{{page needed |date=May 2025}} Implications for understanding attentional control of response selection in conflict situations {{incomprehensible span |date=May 2025 |reason=Are discussed where, by whom? In Schneider? |text=are discussed.}}{{sfn|Schneider|2015}}{{page needed |date=May 2025}}

This also applies to how we{{who|date=December 2023}} structure these processing neurologically. With structuring information interfaces in our neurological processes for procedural learning. These processes were proven effective to work in our{{who|date=December 2023}} interface design. But although both top-down principles were effective in guiding interface design; they were not sufficient. They can be combined with iterative bottom-up methods to produce usable interfaces .<ref>{{harvnb|Zacks|Tversky|2003}}</ref>{{clarify|date=January 2023}}

Undergraduate (or bachelor) students are taught the basis of top-down bottom-up processing around their third year in the program.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}} Going through four main parts of the processing when viewing it from a learning perspective. The two main definitions are that bottom-up processing is determined directly by environmental stimuli rather than the individual's knowledge and expectations.{{sfn|Koch|2022}}