What is sensation vs perception?

Sensation and perception, as explained by Andrew Huberman, refer to two distinct but interconnected processes in the way we interpret the world around us.

• Sensation: This is the initial input from the environment; the raw data received through our sensory organs like the eyes, ears, and skin. For instance, sensation involves the detection of light, sound, or touch. Andrew Huberman illustrates this by noting that sensation is unavoidable and always occurring — it's how we receive various stimuli from the environment through our sensory receptors 1.

• Perception: This refers to the interpretation or the meaningful organization of these sensory signals. Perception involves focusing, exploring, and making sense of the sensory information. This is where you pay attention to specific sensations and start to consciously register what you are sensing. For example, paying attention to the feeling of your feet against the floor transitions a mere sensation into perception, as you bring what is called the "spotlight of perception" onto that sensation 1.

Understanding these concepts helps in grasping how we process the vast amounts of information we constantly receive and how our brains choose which parts to bring into active awareness.