What is an example of top-down processing in speech perception?

An example of top-down processing in speech perception is when you understand words or sentences based on context or expectations, even if they are not clearly spoken or parts of the speech are distorted or missing. For instance, if you are listening to a conversation in a noisy environment, like a crowded café, you might still comprehend what the other person is saying because your brain uses your knowledge about the language and the context of the conversation to fill in the gaps.

Let's say someone asks you, "Would you like some c-ffee?" Even though part of the word "coffee" is obscured by a sudden noise, you can infer the missing sound ("-off") and understand the question because you're familiar with the context of the conversation and the question's structure. Your brain uses its previous knowledge and the situation's context to make sense of the incoming auditory information, completing the word without needing to hear every single phonetic detail. This demonstrates how top-down processing allows us to interpret speech based on larger units of meaning rather than solely on the sensory inputs.