Abstract
As an alternative to optimum-processor models in which sensors attempt to circumvent internal and external noise, a mechanism-independent argument is presented for Weber's law in vision and hearing. In vision, the argument is that categories of objects should be independent of the light intensity on these objects. In hearing, sound categorization should be independent of the distance from the sound source. An analogous desideratum for computer-based image segmentation is also presented.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature
Adelson, E. H. 1979. “Mathematics of Afterimage Discrimination.”J. opt. Soc. Am. 69, 1432a.
Brill, M. H. 1976. “Color Vision: An Evolutionary Approach.” Ph.D. Thesis, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.
—, 1978. “A Device Performing Illuminant-invariant Assessment of Chromatic Relations.”J. theor. Biol. 71, 473–478.
—, 1979. “Further Features of the Illuminant-invariant Trichromatic Photosensor.”J. theor. Biol. 78, 305–308.
— and G. West. 1981. “Contributions to the Theory of Invariance of Color under the Condition of Varying Illumination.”J. math. Biol. 11, 337–350.
Buchsbaum, G. 1980. “An Analytical Derivation of Visual Nonlinearity.”IEEE Trans. biomed. Engng BME-27, 237–242.
Cornsweet, T. N. 1970.Visual Perception. New York: Academic Press, pp. 249–257.
Hanson, A. R. and E. M. Riseman (Eds.) 1978.Computer Vision Systems. New York: Academic Press.
Hatze, H. 1979. “A Teleological Explanation of Weber's Law and the Motor Unit Size Law.”Bull. math. Biol. 41, 407–425.
Judd, D. B. 1940. “Hue Saturation and Lightness of Surface Colors with Chromatic Illumination.”J. opt. Soc. Am. 30, 2–32.
Land, E. H. and J. J. McCann. 1971. “Lightness and Retinex Theory.”J. opt. Soc. Am. 61, 1–11.
LeGrand, Y. 1968.Light, Color and Vision, 2nd Edn. New York: John Wiley and Sons.
Martynov, V. N. and B. I. Shkurskii. 1980. “Model of Visual Analyzer as Optimum Detection System.”Soviet J. opt. Technol. 47, 437–440.
Massof, R. W. and S. J. Starr. 1980. “Vector Magnitude Operation in Color Vision Models: Derivation from Signal Detection Theory.”J. opt. Soc. Am. 70, 870–872.
Normann, R. A. and F. S. Werblin, 1974. “Control of Retinal Sensitivity—I. Light and Dark Adaptation of Vertebrate Rods and Cones.”J. gen. Physiol. 63, 37–61.
Resnikoff, H. L. 1975. “On the Psychophysical Function.”J. math. Biol. 2, 265–276.
Yilmaz, H. 1967. “Perceptual Invariance and the Psychophysical Law.”Percept. Psychophys. 2, 533–538.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Brill, M.H. Weber's law and perceptual categories: Another teleological view. Bltn Mathcal Biology 45, 139–142 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02459392
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02459392