title: Detection and recognition of visual targets.
abstract: To aid the development of detection-based interpretations of visual resolution, we evaluated theorems that (1) relate observers' performance in detection of a single target to that in 1-of-m signal detection and (2) predict recognition performance from measured performance at 1-of-m detection. These theorems require that the sensory effects of the stimuli be continuous and that the m signals be equally detectable and mutually orthogonal. To evaluate the theorems, we tested observers in simple detection, 1-of-m detection, and recognition of Landolt C targets and compared predicted and observed performance. Predictions of 1-of-m detection performance from that for simple detection and predictions of recognition from the 1-of-m receiver operating characteristic (ROC) were both accurate to within 0.03 in P(A). In addition, predictions of recognition based on the 1-of-m ROC predicted from simple detection were generally accurate. Thus, under restricted experimental conditions, recognition is determined completely by that for simple detection.
mesh_terms: D001251:Astigmatism / Q000523:psychology; D001288:Attention; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005556:Form Perception; D006801:Humans; D009216:Myopia / Q000523:psychology; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011601:Psychophysics; D013028:Space Perception