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Abstract |
Latest computer vision architectures use a chain of feedforward computations, mainly optimizing artificial neural networks for very specific tasks. Although their impressive performance (i.e. in saliency) using real image datasets, these models do not follow several biological principles of the human visual system (e.g. feedback and horizontal connections in cortex) and are unable to predict several visual tasks simultaneously. In this study we present biologically plausible computations from the early stages of the human visual system (i.e. retina and lateral geniculate nucleus) and lateral connections in V1. Despite the simplicity of these processes and without any type of training or optimization, simulations of firing-rate dynamics of V1 are able to predict bottom-up visual attention at distinct contexts (shown previously as well to predict visual discomfort, brightness and chromatic induction). We also show functional top-down selection mechanisms as feedback inhibition projections (i.e. prefrontal cortex for search/task-based attention and parietal area for inhibition of return). Distinct saliency model predictions are tested with eye tracking datasets in free-viewing and visual search tasks, using real images and synthetically-generated patterns. Results on predicting saliency and scanpaths show that artificial models do not outperform biologically-inspired ones (specifically for datasets that lack of common endogenous biases found in eye tracking experimentation), as well as, do not correctly predict contrast sensitivities in pop-out stimulus patterns. This work remarks the importance of considering biological principles of the visual system for building models that reproduce this (and any other) visual effects. |
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