Spatial Vision

This volume presents an integrated view of how we perceive the spatial relations in our visual world, covering anatomical, physiological, psychophysical, and perceptual aspects. The authors discuss the visual system primarily in terms of spatial frequency analysis using a linear systems approach. They review evidence supporting a local, patch-by-patch spatial frequency filtering of visual information rather than the global Fourier analysis other researchers have proposed. A separate chapter addresses the special issues surrounding color vision, and a brief, nonmathematical introduction to linear systems analysis is included for the uninitiated reader.

Linear systems analysis; Optics; Retino-geniculate anatomy and physiology; Striate cortex; Contrast sensitivity and acuity; Multiple spatial-frequency channels; Sensitivity to color variations; Spatial localization: phase and position; Two-dimensional patterns; Analysis of three-dimensionally-varying patterns; Nonlinearities; Why localized spatial frequency filtering?.