Constructive Visual Imagery And Perception

Introduction One active area of artificial Intelligence research is the Inquiry Into the nature of human cognition. One aspect of this Investigation is the attempt to embody theories of cognition In the form of programs which simulate both general characteristics and specific Instances of observed cognitive behavior. This paper Is a report of one such effort In this area of artificial intelligence viewed as theoretical psychology. It Is based upon research conducted and reported as a Ph.D. thesis In computer science at Carnegie-Melion University (1). Classical or atomistic theory proposed that the visual perception of form Is an "unconscious conclusion" realized by "unconscious Inferences" which are based upon the values of the smallest discrlmlnable or homogeneous patches of the stimulus (2). The Gestalt theory of visual form perception developed as a reaction to the fallure of the Classical approach to adequately account for the effects of context upon the valuation (Interpretation) of any part (atom) of the stimulus. Gestalt theory defines several organizational principles (laws of proximity, continuity, symmetry, simplicity) which are applied to the whole perceptual field to produce the visual form perception (3). Gestalt theory, like atomistic theory, has proven to have Its weaknesses. The laws have proven difficult to specify In quantitative or operational terms. Perception of partial figure regions can have significant effects upon complete figural perceotlon (4,5). Most notably, Gestalt theory Ignores the fact that visual form perception normally Involves multiple fixations of the eye and so provides no means for the Integration of information from successive dlfferIng views. The constructive theory of visual form perception has developed as an alternative to the Classical and Gestalt approaches. This theory proposes that an internal representation of the visual field Is constructed by the integration of a succession of views of (fixations upon) the environment. This representation Is both guide for and product of visual form perception. Hebb (6) began the modern psychological formulation of this theory, describing "cell assemblies" Joined together by (into) "phase sequences" as Its basic functional elements. Hochberg (7,8) has recently continued the investigation. He proposes "schematic maps" as the underlying structural organizations which make possible the selective attention to and the successive Integration of the visual environment. The research which is reported here Is a further Investigation and specification of the constructive theory of visual form perception. More specifically, the goals have been: (1) to Investigate the nature of the processes and …