The terms you are looking for are perception and sensation.

• Perception refers to the way sensory information is interpreted and consciously experienced by the brain. It involves organizing and making sense of the raw sensory data to form meaningful experiences. For example, recognizing an object as an apple based on sensory input is perception

• Sensation refers to what happens when sensory information is detected by a sensory receptor. It is the initial process of receiving raw data from the environment through sensory organs such as eyes, ears, skin, etc. Sensation involves the physical detection of stimuli before the brain interprets it

In summary:

Perception| Sensation
---|---
Interpretation and conscious experience of sensory input| Detection of sensory information by sensory receptors
Involves cognitive processing in the brain| Involves physical detection by sensory organs
Subjective and influenced by experience| Objective and occurs whenever receptors are stimulated

Thus, perception is how sensory information is interpreted and consciously experienced, while sensation is the detection of sensory information by sensory receptors