Cortical Dynamics of Three-Dimensional Form, Color, and Brightness Perception. 1. Monocular Theory

摘要

A real-time visual processing theory is developed to explain how three-dimensional form, color, and brightness percepts are coherently synthesized. The theory describes how several fundamental uncertainty principles which limit the computation of visual information at individual processing stages are resolved through parallel and hierarchical interactions among several processing stages. The theory hereby provides unified analysis and many predictions of data about stereopsis, binocular rivalry, hyperacuity, McCollough effect, textural grouping, border distinctness, surface perception, monocular and binocular brightness percepts, filling-in, metacontrast, transparency, figural aftereffects, lateral inhibition within spatial frequency channels, proximity luminance covariance, tissue contrast, motion segmentation, and illusory figures, as well as about reciprocal interactions among the hypercolumns, blobs, and stripes of cortical areas V1, V2, and V4. Monocular and binocular interactions between a Boundary Contour (BC) System and a Feature Contour (FC) System are developed. The BC System, defined by a hierarchy of oriented interactions, synthesizes an emergent and coherent binocular boundary segmentation from combinations of unoriented and oriented scenic elements.