Nonlinear processes in spatial-frequency channel models of perceived texture segregation: Effects of sign and amount of contrast

Observers rated the degree of segregation between two textures, each composed of the same two element types but in differing arrangements (a checkerboard arrangement in the middle region of the pattern and a striped arrangement in the top and bottom regions). The two element types in a given pattern were either both solid squares or both center-surround elements. In center-surround elements the average luminance equaled the background luminance. The two elements types were identical in size but differed in sign and/or amount of contrast. Discrepancies between the observers' ratings of perceived segregation and the predictions of simple (linear) spatial-frequency and orientation channels models of texture segregation suggested adding nonlinear processes to the model. Complex channels (a rectification-type nonlinearity between two linear-filtering stages) can explain why some patterns made of center-surround elements segregate even though there is little energy at the spatial frequencies that differentiate the two textures. Complex channels cannot, however, explain the very poor segregation of "same-sign-of-contrast" patterns (where the luminances of the two element types were both far above or both far below the background). This second result might arise from a local nonlinearity preceding the channels and might be ascribed to retinal light adaptation except that it occurs at contrasts less than or equal to 25%! Alternatively, it might arise from normalization, which may result from intracortical inhibition. Some preliminary quantitative predictions were computed from two models, one incorporating complex channels and an early local nonlinearity, the other complex channels and normalization. With suitable choices of parameters, either model could account for the results.