Top-down control

Top-down control refers to the brain's ability to regulate and influence how we perceive and respond to the world, based on our goals, expectations, and prior knowledge. It involves higher brain areas, like the prefrontal cortex, sending signals to lower areas to focus attention, suppress distractions, or interpret information in a meaningful way. Essentially, top-down control helps us prioritize important stimuli, make decisions, and maintain goal-directed behavior, guiding our reactions based on context and experience rather than solely on immediate sensory input.