__________ processing is conceptually driven and influenced by our beliefs and expectations

A) Bottom-up
B) Parallel
C) Top-down
D) Sensory

Answer: C
Rationale: Top-down processing occurs when prior knowledge and expectations guide what is perceived. For example, an ambiguous character that could be either a "5" or an "S" will be perceived differently depending on whether you expect it to be a number or a letter.