Priming input refers to the process of providing certain stimuli or information to influence subsequent behavior, thoughts, or responses. In the context of cognitive psychology or machine learning, priming involves exposing an individual or system to specific cues that shape or “prime” their reactions to related information later on.
For example:
- In psychology: If a person is shown words related to old age (e.g., “retirement,” “gray,” “senior”), they may later walk more slowly or exhibit behaviors associated with aging, even if they are not consciously aware of the influence. This is an example of priming affecting behavior through exposure to certain words or concepts.
- In AI or machine learning: Priming might refer to the initial information or data given to a model to set its context for generating responses. For example, when you provide some background information or a specific instruction before asking a question, that input primes the model to respond in a certain way.
Priming can affect various cognitive processes, such as perception, decision-making, and memory recall.