Perception of occluding contours: Neural mechanisms and a computational model

Abstract

Recent studies of neuronal responses to illusory contour figures were reviewed and the evidence for a simple bottom-up processing model was discussed. The model is based on the idea that the system infers occluding contours by combining the results of multiple parallel paths of computation, each of which exploits a specific cue. Its basic structure and many details were derived from single cell studies of areas V1 and V2 of the monkey. A computer implementation of the model was shown to predict the appearance and exact shape of various illusory contour figures, as well as the figureground effect. It also generated contour maps on complex natural images that were significantly better than conventional edge maps