Sanborn, Adam N. and Dayan, P.. (2011) Optimal decisions for contrast discrimination. Journal of Vision, Vol.11 (No.14). Article no. 9. ISSN 1534-7362

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Abstract

Contrast discrimination functions for simple gratings famously look like a dipper. Discrimination thresholds are lower than detection thresholds for moderate pedestal contrasts, and the rate of growth of thresholds as the pedestal contrast gets larger typically lies between the values implied by two popular treatments of noise. Here, we suggest a new normative treatment of the dipper, showing how it emerges from Bayesian inference based on the responses of a population of orientation-tuned units. Our central assumption concerns the noise corrupting the outputs of these units as a function of the contrast: We suggest that it has the shape of a hinge. We show the match to the psychophysical data and discuss the neurobiological and statistical rationales for this form of noise. Finally, we relate our model to other major accounts of contrast discrimination.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Psychology
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Vision
Publisher:	Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
ISSN:	1534-7362
Official Date:	2011
Volume:	Vol.11
Number:	No.14
Page Range:	Article no. 9
Identification Number:	10.1167/11.14.9
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/42379

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