Visual Detection of Motion

As we walk down a busy street our visual world is in constant motion. The traffic moves; people weave in and out. Even when objects are stationary, the images they cast on the retina move as we walk and as our eyes track objects of interest or flick from object to object. This melee of movement provides us with the information we need to get around without colliding with other people or being run over. However, the ease with which we achieve this everyday accomplishment belies the complex calculations our brains must continuously perform in order to interpret image motion correctly. This book explores our current knowledge of these brain processes by bringing together a group of internationally-renowned scientists from around the world to describe current thinking and experimental evidence in their respective fields of expertise. In most cases the contributors have been chosen because they take a multi-disciplinary approach to their subject, considering the problem of visual detection of motion with reference to psychophysical, neurophysiological and computational studies. The topics covered in the book include consideration of the regions of the brain that are involved in motion processing and the properties of single neurones within them, computational models of motion detection, studies of our ability to determine speed and direction of motion, our ability to segment and integrate motion across space and time and to detect movement in depth, and the role of eye movements. This is an important text for all students of vision science, including those with a background in psychology, physiology, robotics and computer science. Written by authorities in their fields, it provides an extensive, informative and up-to-date review of our understanding of the way in which we detect and use the motion information that impinges on our eyes.Smith, Andrew T. is the author of 'Visual Detection of Motion' with ISBN 9780126516609 and ISBN 012651660X.