Abstract
Figure-ground is the segmentation of visual information into objects and their surrounding backgrounds. Two main processes herein are boundary assignment and surface segregation, which rely on the integration of global scene information. Recurrent processing either by intrinsic horizontal connections that connect surrounding neurons or by feedback projections from higher visual areas provide such information, and are considered to be the neural substrate for figure-ground segmentation. On the contrary, a role of feedforward projections in figure-ground segmentation is unknown. To have a better understanding of a role of feedforward connections in figure-ground organization, we constructed a feedforward spiking model using a biologically plausible neuron model. By means of surround inhibition our simple 3-layered model performs figure-ground segmentation and one-sided border-ownership coding. We propose that the visual system uses feed forward suppression for figure-ground segmentation and border-ownership assignment.
Highlights
Figure-ground segmentation is achieved by assigning visual elements to either objects or background as a primary step in visual perception
For example in figure 1a, when the visual system assigns the contrast borders to the light grey area a vase is perceived on a black background
Surface segregation is based on the comparison of locally identified visual features across space
Summary
Figure-ground segmentation is achieved by assigning visual elements to either objects or background as a primary step in visual perception. Two main processes in organizing figure-ground segmentation are boundary assignment and surface segregation (Fig. 1). Boundaries are detected based on local contrast of visual elements, and are assigned to the figural region and not to the surrounding background region. When the visual system assigns the contrast borders to the light grey area a vase is perceived on a black background. If the same contrast borders belong to the black regions two monkey faces are perceived and the light grey area becomes background. In the visual cortex contextual influences on neuronal activity have been interpreted as the neural substrate of figureground perception [1]
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