Final answer:
Perception refers to the way sensory information is organized, interpreted, and consciously experienced. It is influenced by past experiences and various factors, and is not the same as reality itself.
Step-by-step explanation:
Perception refers to the way sensory information is organized, interpreted, and consciously experienced. It involves both bottom-up processing, driven by sensory information from the environment, and top-down processing, driven by knowledge and expectations. Perception is influenced by past experiences, beliefs, values, prejudices, culture, and life experiences. It is not the same as reality itself, as our perceptions can be influenced and biased by various factors.