Why Do Cells Compete? (UMAP)

This unit introduces current data about brightness constancy and contrast in visual perception, and shows that data of this kind are a consequence of a principle that holds in all cellular systems. Variations of this principle imply other visual properties, such as edge detection, spatial frequency detection, and pattern-matching properties.

Table of Contents:

1. BRIGHTNESS CONSTANCY AND BRIGHTNESS CONTRAST

2. THE NOISE-SATURATION DILEMMA

3. COMPETITION IN MASS ACTION SYSTEMS

4. NOISE SUPPRESSION AND INSENSITIVITY TO ZERO SPATIAL FREQUENCY

5. EDGE ENHANCEMENT, SPATIAL FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION, AND PATTERN RECOGNITION

6. CLASSIFICATION OF COMPETITIVE CELLULAR SYSTEMS

7. EXERCISES

8. REFERENCES

9. ANSWERS TO EXERCISES