Spatial frequency analysis in early visual processing.

The existence of multiple channels, or multiple receptive field sizes, in the visual system does not commit us to any particular theory of spatial encoding in vision. However, distortions of apparent spatial frequency and width in a wide variety of conditions favour the idea that each channel carries a width- or frequency-related code or 'label' rather than a 'local sign' or positional label. When distortions of spatial frequency occur without prior adaptation (e.g. at low contrast or low luminance) they are associated with lowered sensitivity, and may be due to a mismatch between the perceptual labels and the actual tuning of the channels. A low-level representation of retinal space could be constructed from the spatial information encoded by the channels, rather than being projected intact from the retina.

[1]  K. D. Valois.  Independence of black and white: Phase-specific adaptation , 1977, Vision Research.

[2]  L. R. Newsome,et al.  Visual angle and apparent size of objects in peripheral vision , 1972 .

[3]  J. Robson,et al.  Application of fourier analysis to the visibility of gratings , 1968, The Journal of physiology.

[4]  INGO RENTSCHLER,et al.  Processing of positional information in the human visual system , 1975, Nature.

[5]  E. Boring.  Sensation and Perception. (Scientific Books: Sensation and Perception in the History of Experimental Psychology) , 1943 .

[6]  F. Kitterle,et al.  Enhancement of apparent contrast in flashed sinusoidal gratings , 1979, Vision Research.

[7]  V. Virsu,et al.  Dark adaptation shifts apparent spatial frequency , 1974 .

[8]  R Sekuler,et al.  Perceived spatial frequency varies with stimulus duration. , 1974, Journal of the Optical Society of America.

[9]  D. Hubel,et al.  Sequence regularity and geometry of orientation columns in the monkey striate cortex , 1974, The Journal of comparative neurology.

[10]  J. Kulikowski,et al.  Apparent fineness of briefly presented gratings: balance between movement and pattern channels , 1975, Vision Research.

[11]  D. W. Heeley.  A perceived spatial frequency shift at orientations orthogonal to adapting gratings , 1979, Vision Research.

[12]  J. Movshon,et al.  Spatial and temporal contrast sensitivity of neurones in areas 17 and 18 of the cat's visual cortex. , 1978, The Journal of physiology.

[13]  I. D. Macleod,et al.  The visibility of gratings: spatial frequency channels or bar-detecting units? , 1974, Vision research.

[14]  C. Blakemore,et al.  Size Adaptation: A New Aftereffect , 1969, Science.

[15]  A. Y. Maudarbocus,et al.  Non-linearity of visual signals in relation to shape-sensitive adaptation responses. , 1973, Vision research.

[16]  M. Georgeson,et al.  Contrast constancy: deblurring in human vision by spatial frequency channels. , 1975, The Journal of physiology.

[17]  F. Campbell,et al.  The effect of orientation on the visual resolution of gratings , 1966, The Journal of physiology.

[18]  D Marr,et al.  Early processing of visual information. , 1976, Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences.