Ramp edges, mach bands, and the functional significance of the simple cell assembly

The responses of "complex" simple cells to sharp and blurred ramp edges were studied. These responses are quite similar to those in the case of lines, which implies that phase information cannot be used to discriminate between ramp edges and lines. Furthermore, if the maximum of the modulu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological cybernetics 1994-03, Vol.70 (5), p.449-461
Main Author: DU BUF, J. M. H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anatomical correlates of behavior
Behavioral psychophysiology
Biological and medical sciences
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
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Summary:The responses of "complex" simple cells to sharp and blurred ramp edges were studied. These responses are quite similar to those in the case of lines, which implies that phase information cannot be used to discriminate between ramp edges and lines. Furthermore, if the maximum of the modulus is used as a position estimate, a systematic bias toward the ramp side results, and this bias increases with edge blur. In contrast, a local extremum in the real part of the cell responses provides a precise position estimate, even for strongly blurred edges. Possible multiscale detection strategies are discussed in the context of a syntactical visual reconstruction. This is illustrated by an explanation of Mach bands as perceived at trapezoidal edges, including Ratliff's Mach-band cancellation stimulus, and criteria for local probability summation in the prediction of Mach-band detection thresholds are presented. (DBO)
ISSN:0340-1200
1432-0770
DOI:10.1007/BF00203238