Influence of figural interpretation on the selective integration of visual motion signals

The solution to the computational problem of reconstructing object motion from retinal image motion is underconstrained. In an effort to converge on a solution to this problem, the primate visual system appears to rely upon image cues that lead to an interpretation of the spatial relationships between objects in a visual scene. Psychophysical experiments illustrate this phenomenon through the apparent dependence of motion signal integration on luminance-based cues for occlusion and perceptual transparency. Neurophysiological studies of the cell populations thought to underlie motion signal integration reveal a change in directional selectivity that precisely parallels the perceptual phenomenon. Among obstacles faced in attempts to understand the neural bases of primate vision, the integration of motion signals holds a unique position; The computational problem is well-defined, a specific neural substrate has been identified, and the solution to the integration problem is absolutely critical for visually guided behavior. As such, it stands as a model system for exploring the relationships between neuronal phenomena, perception, and behavior.

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