Lincoln is pretty sure he sees his niece far off in a crowd. when he gets closer, he sees her familiar hair style and unmistakable nose, and knows it is her. this type of visual perception is called top-down processing linear perspective atmospheric perspective perceptual constancy

The answer is top-down processing. Top-down processing is one of the types of processes in perception. As depicted in the scenario above, Lincoln believed he sees her niece far off the crowd based on visual patterns only. Top-down processing pertains to the utilization and recognition of patterns based on just a context.