perceptimor

Perceptimor is a term used in discussions of perception and cognition to describe a perceptual state in which sensory content is actively modified or morphed by higher-level interpretive processes. The term is a portmanteau of percept and morph, signaling the merging of perception with morphing dynamics that reconfigure what is perceived without changes in the external stimulus. In this view, perception is not a static readout but a morphable construct shaped by prior expectations, context, attention, and predictive models.

Conceptual framework: Perceptimor aligns with predictive coding and top-down processing. It characterizes adaptive changes to perceptual representational content as a function of priors, attentional focus, and task demands. It can help explain phenomena such as ambiguous figures, context-driven reinterpretation, and rapid perceptual shifts that occur with minimal sensory change.

Mechanisms and examples: Neural correlates are proposed in visual and auditory cortices, involving feedback loops that revise perceptual hypotheses. For instance, in ambiguous figures, the same stimulus can be experienced as different forms as context or focus changes, illustrating perceptimor dynamics.

Applications and critical discussion: Some researchers explore perceptimor concepts in artificial perception systems, virtual reality, and clinical research into hallucinations and perceptual disorders. Critics argue that the term overlaps with established ideas such as perceptual set, illusory content, and predictive coding, and requires clear operational definitions to avoid vagueness.

See also: Predictive coding, top-down processing, perceptual set, perceptual illusion, pareidolia.