title: Understanding physiological and degenerative natural vision mechanisms to define contrast and contour operators.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dynamical systems like neural networks based on lateral inhibition have a large field of applications in image processing, robotics and morphogenesis modeling. In this paper, we will propose some examples of dynamical flows used in image contrasting and contouring.
  
  
  METHODS
  First we present the physiological basis of the retina function by showing the role of the lateral inhibition in the optical illusions and pathologic processes generation. Then, based on these biological considerations about the real vision mechanisms, we study an enhancement method for contrasting medical images, using either a discrete neural network approach, or its continuous version, i.e. a non-isotropic diffusion reaction partial differential system. Following this, we introduce other continuous operators based on similar biomimetic approaches: a chemotactic contrasting method, a viability contouring algorithm and an attentional focus operator. Then, we introduce the new notion of mixed potential Hamiltonian flows; we compare it with the watershed method and we use it for contouring.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude by showing the utility of these biomimetic methods with some examples of application in medical imaging and computed assisted surgery.
authors: TIMC-IMAG, UMR UJF/CNRS 5525, University J Fourier of Grenoble, La Tronche, France. Jacques.Demongeot@imag.fr
authors: Jacques
authors: J
authors: Demongeot
authors: Yannick
authors: Y
authors: Fouquet
authors: Muhammad
authors: M
authors: Tayyab
authors: Nicolas
authors: N
authors: Vuillerme
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D032701:Biomimetics; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003201:Computers; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods; D012160:Retina / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014785:Vision, Ocular