scholarly journals Sharpening coarse-to-fine stereo vision by perceptual learning: asymmetric transfer across the spatial frequency spectrum

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 150523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger W. Li ◽  
Truyet T. Tran ◽  
Ashley P. Craven ◽  
Tsz-Wing Leung ◽  
Sandy W. Chat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Frequency ◽  
Perceptual Learning ◽  
Frequency Spectrum ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
High Spatial Frequency ◽  
Visual Image ◽  
Spatial Frequencies ◽  
Early Visual Cortex ◽  
Coarse To Fine ◽  
Spatial Frequency Spectrum

Neurons in the early visual cortex are finely tuned to different low-level visual features, forming a multi-channel system analysing the visual image formed on the retina in a parallel manner. However, little is known about the potential ‘cross-talk’ among these channels. Here, we systematically investigated whether stereoacuity, over a large range of target spatial frequencies, can be enhanced by perceptual learning. Using narrow-band visual stimuli, we found that practice with coarse (low spatial frequency) targets substantially improves performance, and that the improvement spreads from coarse to fine (high spatial frequency) three-dimensional perception, generalizing broadly across untrained spatial frequencies and orientations. Notably, we observed an asymmetric transfer of learning across the spatial frequency spectrum. The bandwidth of transfer was broader when training was at a high spatial frequency than at a low spatial frequency. Stereoacuity training is most beneficial when trained with fine targets. This broad transfer of stereoacuity learning contrasts with the highly specific learning reported for other basic visual functions. We also revealed strategies to boost learning outcomes ‘beyond-the-plateau’. Our investigations contribute to understanding the functional properties of the network subserving stereovision. The ability to generalize may provide a key principle for restoring impaired binocular vision in clinical situations.

scholarly journals Neuronal basis of perceptual learning in striate cortex

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen Ren ◽  
Jiawei Zhou ◽  
Zhimo Yao ◽  
Zhengchun Wang ◽  
Nini Yuan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Frequency ◽  
Perceptual Learning ◽  
Contrast Sensitivity ◽  
Striate Cortex ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
High Spatial Frequency ◽  
Sensitivity Training ◽  
Spatial Frequencies ◽  
Cortex Area ◽  
Adult Cats

Abstract It is well known that, in humans, contrast sensitivity training at high spatial frequency (SF) not only leads to contrast sensitivity improvement, but also results in an improvement in visual acuity as assessed with gratings (direct effect) or letters (transfer effect). However, the underlying neural mechanisms of this high spatial frequency training improvement remain to be elucidated. In the present study, we examined four properties of neurons in primary visual cortex (area 17) of adult cats that exhibited significantly improved acuity after contrast sensitivity training with a high spatial frequency grating and those of untrained control cats. We found no difference in neuronal contrast sensitivity or tuning width (Width) between the trained and untrained cats. However, the trained cats showed a displacement of the cells’ optimal spatial frequency (OSF) to higher spatial frequencies as well as a larger neuronal signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Furthermore, both the neuronal differences in OSF and SNR were significantly correlated with the improvement of acuity measured behaviorally. These results suggest that striate neurons might mediate the perceptual learning-induced improvement for high spatial frequency stimuli by an alteration in their spatial frequency representation and by an increased SNR.

A Comparative Study of the Spatial-Frequency Spectrum of Different Letter Optotypes and its Role in Target Recognition

Perception ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 26 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 214-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
S A Koskin ◽  
V F Danilichev ◽  
Y E Shelepin
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Frequency ◽  
Contrast Sensitivity ◽  
Frequency Spectrum ◽  
Brain Diseases ◽  
Sinusoidal Grating ◽  
Sensitivity Functions ◽  
Spatial Frequencies ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Narrow Frequency Band ◽  
Spatial Frequency Spectrum

We studied the contrast sensitivity functions (CSFs) in patients with different eye and brain diseases using a computerised sinusoidal grating test with a wide range of frequencies (0.4 – 19.0 cycles deg−1), the Pelli - Robson chart and a new chart with frequency-filtered Snellen optotypes. The patients had different CSF curves with a decrease of contrast sensitivity in the low, middle, or high frequencies depending on their main disease (refraction anomalies, cataract, glaucoma, neuritis of optic nerve, brain tumours, etc). Analysis showed that optotypes in the Pelli - Robson chart have a wide-range spatial-frequency spectrum, and optotype recognition is determined not only by low spatial frequencies. We find that the recognition of standard Sloan's optotypes is determined mostly by sensitivity in the range of 9.4 – 14.0 cycles deg−1. At the same time we measured contrast sensitivity using the new filtered Snellen optotypes. Our calculations support our earlier suggestions that the new filtered optotypes have a narrow-band spatial-frequency spectrum, thus enabling selective measurement of contrast sensitivity in each narrow frequency band.

The Neural Substrates and Timing of Top–Down Processes during Coarse-to-Fine Categorization of Visual Scenes: A Combined fMRI and ERP Study

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. 2768-2780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carole Peyrin ◽  
Christoph M. Michel ◽  
Sophie Schwartz ◽  
Gregor Thut ◽  
Mohamed Seghier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Frequency ◽  
Visual Analysis ◽  
High Spatial Frequency ◽  
Neural Substrates ◽  
Brain Network ◽  
Processing Scheme ◽  
Spatial Frequencies ◽  
Visual Areas ◽  
Initial Activation ◽  
Coarse To Fine

Spatial frequencies in an image influence visual analysis across a distributed, hierarchically organized brain network. Low spatial frequency (LSF) information may rapidly reach high-order areas to allow an initial coarse parsing of the visual scene, which could then be “retroinjected” through feedback into lower level visual areas to guide finer analysis on the basis of high spatial frequency (HSF). To test this “coarse-to-fine” processing scheme and to identify its neural substrates in the human brain, we presented sequences of two spatial-frequency-filtered scenes in rapid succession (LSF followed by HSF or vice versa) during fMRI and ERPs in the same participants. We show that for low-to-high sequences (but not for high-to-low sequences), LSF produces a first increase of activity in prefrontal and temporo-parietal areas, followed by enhanced responses to HSF in primary visual cortex. This pattern is consistent with retroactive influences on low-level areas that process HSF after initial activation of higher order areas by LSF.

scholarly journals Monocular blur alters the tuning characteristics of stereopsis for spatial frequency and size

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (9) ◽  
pp. 160273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger W. Li ◽  
Kayee So ◽  
Thomas H. Wu ◽  
Ashley P. Craven ◽  
Truyet T. Tran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Frequency ◽  
Narrow Band ◽  
Frequency Tuning ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
High Spatial Frequency ◽  
Spatial Filters ◽  
Optimum Frequency ◽  
Spatial Frequencies ◽  
Coarse To Fine ◽  
Tuning Function

Our sense of depth perception is mediated by spatial filters at different scales in the visual brain; low spatial frequency channels provide the basis for coarse stereopsis, whereas high spatial frequency channels provide for fine stereopsis. It is well established that monocular blurring of vision results in decreased stereoacuity. However, previous studies have used tests that are broadband in their spatial frequency content. It is not yet entirely clear how the processing of stereopsis in different spatial frequency channels is altered in response to binocular input imbalance. Here, we applied a new stereoacuity test based on narrow-band Gabor stimuli. By manipulating the carrier spatial frequency, we were able to reveal the spatial frequency tuning of stereopsis, spanning from coarse to fine, under blurred conditions. Our findings show that increasing monocular blur elevates stereoacuity thresholds ‘selectively’ at high spatial frequencies, gradually shifting the optimum frequency to lower spatial frequencies. Surprisingly, stereopsis for low frequency targets was only mildly affected even with an acuity difference of eight lines on a standard letter chart. Furthermore, we examined the effect of monocular blur on the size tuning function of stereopsis. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

scholarly journals Epifluorescence-based three-dimensional traction force microscopy

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Hazlett ◽  
Alexander K. Landauer ◽  
Mohak Patel ◽  
Hadley A. Witt ◽  
Jin Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Frequency ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Single Particle ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Traction Force ◽  
High Spatial Frequency ◽  
Epifluorescence Microscopy ◽  
Traction Force Microscopy ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Out Of Plane

Abstract We introduce a novel method to compute three-dimensional (3D) displacements and both in-plane and out-of-plane tractions on nominally planar transparent materials using standard epifluorescence microscopy. Despite the importance of out-of-plane components to fully understanding cell behavior, epifluorescence images are generally not used for 3D traction force microscopy (TFM) experiments due to limitations in spatial resolution and measuring out-of-plane motion. To extend an epifluorescence-based technique to 3D, we employ a topology-based single particle tracking algorithm to reconstruct high spatial-frequency 3D motion fields from densely seeded single-particle layer images. Using an open-source finite element (FE) based solver, we then compute the 3D full-field stress and strain and surface traction fields. We demonstrate this technique by measuring tractions generated by both single human neutrophils and multicellular monolayers of Madin–Darby canine kidney cells, highlighting its acuity in reconstructing both individual and collective cellular tractions. In summary, this represents a new, easily accessible method for calculating fully three-dimensional displacement and 3D surface tractions at high spatial frequency from epifluorescence images. We released and support the complete technique as a free and open-source code package.

scholarly journals Contrast thresholds reveal different visual masking functions in humans and praying mantises

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghaith Tarawneh ◽  
Vivek Nityananda ◽  
Ronny Rosner ◽  
Steven Errington ◽  
William Herbert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Frequency ◽  
Motion Detection ◽  
Visual Masking ◽  
High Spatial Frequency ◽  
Visual Noise ◽  
Frequency Noise ◽  
Detection Systems ◽  
Spatial Frequencies ◽  
Summary Statement ◽  
Contrast Thresholds

AbstractRecently, we showed a novel property of the Hassenstein-Reichardt detector: namely, that insect motion detection can be masked by “invisible” noise, i.e. visual noise presented at spatial frequencies to which the animals do not respond when presented as a signal. While this study compared the effect of noise on human and insect motion perception, it used different ways of quantifying masking in two species. This was because the human studies measured contrast thresholds, which were too time-consuming to acquire in the insect given the large number of stimulus parameters examined. Here, we run longer experiments in which we obtained contrast thresholds at just two signal and two noise frequencies. We examine the increase in threshold produced by noise at either the same frequency as the signal, or a different frequency. We do this in both humans and praying mantises (Sphodromantis lineola), enabling us to compare these species directly in the same paradigm. Our results confirm our earlier finding: whereas in humans, visual noise masks much more effectively when presented at the signal spatial frequency, in insects, noise is roughly equivalently effective whether presented at the same frequency or a lower frequency. In both species, visual noise presented at a higher spatial frequency is a less effective mask.Summary StatementWe here show that despite having similar motion detection systems, insects and humans differ in the effect of low and high spatial frequency noise on their contrast thresholds.

Natural scenes have matched amplitude-modulated sounds that systematically influence visual scanning

2012 ◽  
Vol 25 (0) ◽  
pp. 121
Author(s):  
Marcia Grabowecky ◽  
Aleksandra Sherman ◽  
Satoru Suzuki
Keyword(s):  
Eye Movements ◽  
Spatial Frequency ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
High Spatial Frequency ◽  
Visual Object ◽  
Natural Scenes ◽  
Scale Invariant ◽  
Visual Coding ◽  
Visual Spatial ◽  
Spatial Frequencies

We have previously demonstrated a linear perceptual relationship between auditory amplitude-modulation (AM) rate and visual spatial-frequency using gabors as the visual stimuli. Can this frequency-based auditory–visual association influence perception of natural scenes? Participants consistently matched specific auditory AM rates to diverse visual scenes (nature, urban, and indoor). A correlation analysis indicated that higher subjective density ratings were associated with faster AM-rate matches. Furthermore, both the density ratings and AM-rate matches were relatively scale invariant, suggesting that the underlying crossmodal association is between visual coding of object-based density and auditory coding of AM rate. Based on these results, we hypothesized that concurrently presented fast (7 Hz) or slow (2 Hz) AM-rates might influence how visual attention is allocated to dense or sparse regions within a scene. We tested this hypothesis by monitoring eye movements while participants examined scenes for a subsequent memory task. To determine whether fast or slow sounds guided eye movements to specific spatial frequencies, we computed the maximum contrast energy at each fixation across 12 spatial frequency bands ranging from 0.06–10.16 cycles/degree. We found that the fast sound significantly guided eye movements toward regions of high spatial frequency, whereas the slow sound guided eye movements away from regions of high spatial frequency. This suggests that faster sounds may promote a local scene scanning strategy, acting as a ‘filter’ to individuate objects within dense regions. Our results suggest that auditory AM rate and visual object density are crossmodally associated, and that this association can modulate visual inspection of scenes.

Evolution of the spatial frequency spectrum of the scattering in the region of the 3S–3Ptransition in sodium vapor

1987 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 1078-1080 ◽  
Author(s):  
A A Afanas'ev ◽  
V I Vaĭchaĭtis ◽  
M V Ignatavichyus ◽  
V A Kudryashov ◽  
Yu N Pimenov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Frequency ◽  
Frequency Spectrum ◽  
Sodium Vapor ◽  
Spatial Frequency Spectrum
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