Hue geometry and horizontal connections.
Primate visual systems support an elaborate specialization for processing color information. Concentrating on the hue component, we observe that, contrary to Mondrian-like assumptions, hue varies in a smooth manner for ecologically important natural imagery. To represent these smooth variations, and to support those information processing tasks that utilize hue, a piecewise smooth hue field is postulated. The geometry of hue-patch interactions is developed analogously to orientation-patch interactions in texture. The result is a model for long-range (horizontal) interactions in the color domain, the power of which is demonstrated on a number of examples. Implications for computer image processing, computer vision, visual neurophysiology and psychophysics are discussed.
Ben-Shahar
Ohad
O
Department of Computer Science, Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8285, USA. ben-shahar@cs.yale.edu
Zucker
Steven W
SW
D000818:Animals; D001288:Attention; D003116:Color; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D001330:Electronic Data Processing; D005364:Field Dependence-Independence; D005863:Gestalt Theory; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011930:Reaction Time; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000502:physiology*