P

ercept development from contextual data is analogous to the filling of a 'bucket' with some material (information).

When the bucket is full a percept is formed. The bucket is a statistical function which relates the probability that data points are logically connected in a recurring figure. The recurring figure is a percept. What quantity of data points is sufficient to draw a conclusion (percept) is determined primarily by context development.
Initial percepts are not a matter of 'on/off, yes/no' but rather of 'more/less, probably/maybe' (the bucket is of indeterminate size).

Percepts acquired later (example - visual percepts not available before birth) may be increasingly distinct because a percept forming context then exists. The number of data points needed to confirm a valid percept is the same as the quantity in the already acquired context.

Thereafter, the same set of sensual inputs triggers the percept, the use of which becomes new contextual data which fills another bucket. When a 'set of perceptions' bucket is filled another percept is formed.

This is the fundamental function of the mind: the creation of a hierarchical structure of percepts. And the empirical method used (accumulated experience) may be termed 'free induction' No mental 'effort' is required by this method.