Mechanisms of Neural Architecture for Visual Contrast and Brightness Perception

Abstract

A neural architecture is proposed that serves as a framework for further empirical as well as theoretical investigations for a unified theory for contrast and brightness perception. The work further extends the brightness perception model developed by Grossberg and Todorovic. The proposed new computational architecture utilizes a (retinal) preprocessing stage with center-surround antagonisms of both polarities. The preprocessed data are shown to multiplex contrast as well as luminance information that can be de-multiplexed subsequently using a scheme of cross-channel interaction. Based on a hypothesized luminance-related channel, a three-stage process is suggested for brightness reconstruction. The separate channel for the representation of luminance-related information provides a key mechanism to assign the reconstructed brightness to an absolute reference level. The architecture provides a framework for the analysis of processes in brightness perception. Copyright © 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.