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Gain, noise, and contrast sensitivity of linear visual neurons

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 June 2009

Andrew B. Watson
Andrew B. Watson
Affiliation:
Vision Group, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field
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Abstract

Contrast sensitivity is a measure of the ability of an observer to detect contrast signals of particular spatial and temporal frequencies. A formal definition of contrast sensitivity that can be applied to individual linear visual neurons is derived. A neuron is modeled by a contrast transfer function and its modulus, contrast gain, and by a noise power spectrum. The distributions of neural responses to signal and blank presentations are derived, and from these, a definition of contrast sensitivity is obtained. This formal definition may be used to relate the sensitivities of various populations of neurons, and to relate the sensitivities of neurons to that of the behaving animal.

Keywords

Contrast sensitivityMaintained dischargeNoiseSignal detection theoryLinear systemsPower spectrum

Information

Type
Research Articles
Information
Visual Neuroscience , Volume 4 , Issue 2 , February 1990, pp. 147 - 157
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

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