Which statement about perception is true?

Perception being influenced by the information from the senses is a foundational concept in the study of how we interpret the world around us. Our sensory systems—such as vision, hearing, touch, taste, and smell—gather data from our environment, which then travels to the brain for processing. This sensory data provides the raw materials that our brain uses to construct our perceptual experiences.

When we hear a sound, see an object, or feel a texture, it is the data that our senses collect that informs how we interpret that experience. For instance, if we see a red light, the information from our visual receptors allows us to perceive that it is a signal to stop, showcasing how our sensory data shapes our perception of reality.

In contrast, other statements complicate the understanding of perception. The idea that perception reflects reality perfectly is inaccurate because our perceptions can be distorted by a variety of factors, such as expectations, experiences, and cultural contexts. The second statement suggests that perception is proactive, which typically relates to how expectations and prior knowledge can guide our understanding, but it doesn't capture the essential role of incoming sensory data. Lastly, stating that perception is often independent of expectations undermines a key aspect of how perception works—namely, that