Visual Perception: An IntroductionVision is our most dominant sense, from which we derive most of our information about the world. From the light that enters the eye and the processing in the brain that follows we can sense where things are, how they move and what they are. The first edition of Visual Perception took a refreshingly different approach to perception, starting from the function that vision serves for an active observer in a three-dimensional environment. This fully revised and expanded new edition continues this approach in contrast to the traditional textbook treatment of vision as a catalogue of phenomena. Following a general introduction to the main theoretical approaches, the authors discuss the historical basis of our current knowledge. Placing the study of vision in its historical context, they look at how our ideas have been shaped by art, optics, biology and philosophy as well as psychology. Visual optics and the neurophysiology of vision are also described. The core of the book covers the perception of location, motion and object recognition. There is a new chapter on representation and vision, including a section on the perception of computer generated images. This readable, accessible and truly relevant introduction to the world of perception aims to elicit both independent thought and further study. It will be welcomed by students of visual perception and those with a general interest in the mysteries of vision. |
Contents
Understanding visual perception | 1 |
Functions of visual perception | 2 |
Models of visual perception | 6 |
Measuring visual perception | 11 |
Visual perception and the physical environment | 20 |
Development of perception | 22 |
When vision goes wrong | 25 |
The heritage | 32 |
Navigation | 176 |
Motion | 178 |
Sources of motion stimulation | 180 |
Motion Phenomena | 185 |
Retinocentric motion | 195 |
Egocentric motion | 202 |
Geocentric motion | 208 |
Recognition | 215 |
Optics | 33 |
Art and representation | 43 |
Life sciences | 49 |
Philosophy | 59 |
Psychology | 70 |
Light and the eye | 85 |
Visual optics | 86 |
Visual neurophysiology | 102 |
Location | 143 |
Frames of reference | 144 |
Visual direction | 149 |
Visual distance | 159 |
Perceiving object properties | 216 |
Perceptual constancies | 217 |
Recognising objects | 226 |
Representations and vision | 236 |
Pictures and objects | 237 |
Computergenerated displays | 250 |
Summary and conclusions | 259 |
267 | |
277 | |
281 | |
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Common terms and phrases
activity angle appear applied approach areas aspects behaviour binocular body brain called cells century Chapter colour combined concerned cones considered constant correspond cues defined depends depth described detected determine developed dimensions direction disparity display distance effects egocentric environment example experience eye movements field Figure fixation frame of reference function geocentric grating head horizontal human important interpreted involved lens light lines look measured methods motion move nature nerve neural normal objects observer occur optical orientation particular pattern perceived perception phenomena physical position possible presented problem produced projection range recognition reflected regions relative remain representation represented respect response result retina retinocentric rotation seen separation shape signals similar single sources space spatial stationary stimulation structure surface theory tion vertical visible vision visual wavelength