Introduction To Vision Science

Different animals have different visual systems and so presumably have different ways of seeing. How does the way in which we see depend on the optical, neural and motor components of our visual systems? The mathematical tools needed to answer this question are introduced in this book. Elementary linear algebra is used to describe the transformation of the stimulus that occurs in the formation of the optical, neural and motor images in the human visual system. The distinctive feature of the approach is that transformations are specified with enough rigour for readers to be able to set up their own models and generate predictions from them. Underlying the approach of this book is the goal of providing a self-contained source for the derivation of the basic equations of vision science. An introductory section on vector and matrix algebra covers the mathematical techniques which are applied to both sensory and motor aspects of the visual system, and the intervening steps in the mathematical arguments are given in full, in order to make the derivation of the equations easier to follow. A subsidiary goal of this book is to demonstrate the utility of current desktop computer packages which make the application of mathematics very easy. All the numerical results were produced using only a spreadsheet or mathematics package, and example calculations are included in the text.

Different animals have different visual systems and so presumably have different ways of seeing. How does the way in which we see depend on the optical, neural and motor components of our visual systems? Originally published in 1993, the mathematical tools needed to answer this question are introduced in this book. Elementary linear algebra is used to describe the transformations of the stimulus that occur in the formation of the optical, neural and motor images in the human visual system. The distinctive feature of the approach is that transformations are specified with enough rigour for readers to be able to set up their own models and generate predictions from them. Underlying the approach of this book is the goal of providing a self-contained source for the derivation of the basic equations of vision science. An introductory section on vector and matrix algebra covers the mathematical techniques which are applied to both sensory and motor aspects of the visual system, and the intervening steps in the mathematical arguments are given in full, in order to make the derivation of the equations easier to follow. A subsidiary goal of this book is to demonstrate the utility of current desktop computer packages which make the application of mathematics very easy. All the numerical results were produced using only a spreadsheet or mathematics package, and example calculations are included in the text.

This book revolutionizes how vision can be taught to undergraduate and graduate students in cognitive science, psychology, and optometry. It is the first comprehensive textbook on vision to reflect the integrated computational approach of modern research scientists. This new interdisciplinary approach, called "vision science," integrates psychological, computational, and neuroscientific perspectives.The book covers all major topics related to vision, from early neural processing of image structure in the retina to high-level visual attention, memory, imagery, and awareness. The presentation throughout is theoretically sophisticated yet requires minimal knowledge of mathematics. There is also an extensive glossary, as well as appendices on psychophysical methods, connectionist modeling, and color technology. The book will serve not only as a comprehensive textbook on vision, but also as a valuable reference for researchers in cognitive science, psychology, neuroscience, computer science, optometry, and philosophy.

This textbook on vision reflects the integrated computational approach of modern research scientists, combining psychological, computational and neuroscientific perspectives.

This textbook is intended for use in a course for undergraduate students in biology, neuroscience or psychology who have had an introductory course on the structure and function of the nervous system. Its primary purpose is to provide a working vocabulary and knowledge of the biology of vision and to acquaint students with the major themes in biological vision research. Part I treats the eye as an image-forming organ and provides an overview of the projections from the retina to key visual structures of the brain. Part II examines the functions of the retina and its central projections in greater detail, building on the introductory material of Part I. Part III treats certain special topics in vision that require this detailed knowledge of the structure and properties of the retina and visual projections.

Basic and Clinical Applications of Vision Sciences contains the edited papers presented at the Enoch Vision Science Symposium, April 27-30 1996, which was organized in honor of the pioneer in vision science, Dr Jay M Enoch. Dr Enoch served for twelve years as Dean, School of Optometry, University of California, Berkeley. The book is organized along the lines of Dr. Enoch's contributions to vision science, but is not limited to these topics. Of special note, the reader will find papers on important new developments in photoreceptor, ophthalmic and visual optics, retinal imaging, ophthalmic physiology and pathophysiology, visual psychophysics and visual techniques. The papers are grouped into the following sections: photoreceptor optics; ophthalmic and visual optics; binocular vision, developmental vision, eye movements and physiology; ophthalmic dysfunction; visual psychophysics and clinical applications; history of vision science. £/LIST£