The Oriented Difference-of-Gaussians Model of Brightness Perception

Abstract

The Oriented Difference-of-Gaussians (ODOG) model of brightness perception is based on linear spatial filtering by oriented receptive fields followed by contrast/response normalization. The ODOG model can parsimoniously predict the perceived intensity (brightness) of regions in many visual stimuli including White's effect. Unlike competing explanations such as anchoring theory, filling-in, edge-integration, or layer decomposition, spatial filtering by the ODOG model accounts for the gradient structure of induction which, while most striking in grating induction, also occurs within the test fields of classical simultaneous brightness contrast and the White stimulus. Because the ODOG model does not require defined regions of interest it can be applied to arbitrary stimuli, including natural images. We give a detailed description of the ODOG model and illustrate its operation on the Black and White Mondrian stimulus similar to that used by Land & McCann [31] to demonstrate their Retinex model of lightness perception/constancy.