QUANTITATIVE MODELS FOR PATTERN DETECTION AND DISCRIMINATION

Psychophysical research has resulted in the development of a quantitative model of human spatial vision that accurately predicts both threshold detection and discrimination of localized visual patterns in the fovea. This model incorporates both oriented filters and response nonlinearities characteristic of cortical simple cells. With appropriate modifications, this model is applicable to peripheral vision as well. Extension of such models to include nonlinear (non-Fourier) processing enables them to predict aspects of texture discrimination and illusory contour perception as well.