Recognizing configurations is the interaction between perception and memory
3)
An emerging percept has to mingle with a memory trace of an experience by some
function
The Three main theories of pattern recognition
1)
Template Matching Theory
-
Pattern recognition would be simple if all patterns were the same, but patterns are
not all the same
o
I.e. there is not just one way a chair appears
How are we able to identify them as the same objects?
-
Theory suggests that we compare the configuration of the current sensory input with
a standard configuration we have in memory (prototype or template)
o
A prototype is an average representation of the object in memory
o
If the match is good enough, we recognize the object
Hintzman Multiple-trace Memory Model:

-
A
probe
from primary memory (current experience of the stimulus) activates
secondary memory (previous experience of similar stimulus) where
memory traces
are activated to the extent that they are similar to the probe
-
Contributions from the activated memory traces return an
echo
to primary memory
Probe
– A snapshot of information in primary memory that can activate memory traces in
secondary memory
Echo
– When a Probe goes out from primary memory to secondary memory, memory traces
are activated to the extent that they are similar to the probe; made up of all contributions
from memory traces
Strengths – A simple economical explanation
Weaknesses – It would be quite inefficient to build an inventory of templates to classify all
the different varieties (too many templates!) What entails a match is not well defined at all.
2)
Feature detection theory
-
We decompose objects in features and we identify them in such a way.
-
Feature
– A very simple element that can appear in a combination with other visual
elements across a variety of patterns
-
So it is the ultimate combination that allows recognition
Selfridge’s Pandomenium model
1)
Bottom level contains
data demons
, or images in which pattern of feature is
represented
2)
Next level contains
cognitive demons
ready to detect a particular pattern, if
detected the demon shouts
3)
Top level contains the
decision demons
, which selects the cognitive demon that is
best represented from the second level
a.
Determine who shouts the loudest
** The Greatest similarity = The louder a cognitive demon will shout
Importance of features
-
Similar to the
primary visual cortex
which has special cells and areas for processing
simple visual features
Implication of Pandemonium
-
Parallel processing
o
Perform many computation at once rather than in a serial manner
o
Features and patterns are being detected in parallel
o
Explains why we can recognize object quickly and efficiently
o
Each group of demons are looking for a particular aspect
-
Perception is a problem to solve
o
The solution relies on a group – the cognitive demons
o
This is adaptive
The match does not have to be an exact match, rather one demon just
has to be the loudest

Problems
-
Feature detection involves some sort of list of defining features…
-

