Final answer:
The Interactive Activation Model explains the combined use of top-down and bottom-up processing in word recognition, integrating sensory input with prior knowledge.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Interactive Activation Model explains how top-down processing and bottom-up processing work together to recognize words. This cognitive model suggests that during the process of word recognition, there is a dynamic interaction between the sensory information we receive (bottom-up) and our prior knowledge and expectations (top-down). This interaction facilitates the identification and understanding of words within a given context. For instance, when we read a sentence, we not only process the visual stimuli (letters and words) that come from the bottom up but also use our expectations and knowledge about the language to fill in gaps or predict upcoming words (top-down).