analysis by synthesis

n. Any of a number of processes of information processing in which both bottom-up (data-driven) and top-down (concept-driven) processing are used in sequence in the interpretation of sensory information. The process begins with an initial analysis of sensory data according to its physical attributes and patterns, which are then compared along with contextual information with previously learned patterns, and creates an internal working model of the sensory input which is again compared with the sensory data. The process then either terminates with a match or attempts a new internal representation, and the process is repeated until a match is obtained. This process is usually used to describe speech recognition and language perception.