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Top-down knowledge can affect perception when the input is ambiguous
Michael A Cohen1, Mabel Shanahan2, Katherine Besch2
1Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Journal of Experimental Psychology. General
|January 26, 2026
Summary
Top-down knowledge influences perception, especially under ambiguous viewing conditions. This study demonstrates a memory color effect in dim light, confirming how prior knowledge shapes visual experience.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Visual Perception
Background:
- Top-down factors like emotions and knowledge are suggested to influence perception.
- Previous findings face criticism due to methodological flaws and small effect sizes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of top-down knowledge on perception, specifically the memory color effect.
- To present a novel variant of the memory color effect designed to overcome common criticisms.
Main Methods:
- Observational study involving participants viewing desaturated object printouts.
- Ambiguous viewing conditions (extremely dim light) and unambiguous conditions (bright light) were employed.
- Control experiments were conducted to rule out demand characteristics.
Main Results:
- A significant memory color effect was observed under dim, ambiguous lighting conditions.
- No appreciable memory color effect was found under bright, unambiguous lighting.
- Control experiments confirmed the results were not due to experimental demand.
Conclusions:
- Top-down knowledge can directly impact perceptual experience under specific, ambiguous viewing conditions.
- This study provides clear evidence for the role of memory color in shaping how objects appear.
- The findings highlight the interplay between knowledge and sensory input in perception.
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