| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/H50579/01 |
| Title: |
ADAPTIVE NETWORKS FOR MOTION PROCESSING |
| Principal Investigator: |
Laughlin, Professor SB |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Zoology |
| Organisation: |
University of Cambridge |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 January 1993 |
Ends: |
31 December 1995 |
Value (£): |
106,316
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Vision & Senses - ICT appl. |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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To carry out an experimental-theoretical analysis of motion detecting networks in the flys visual system. 1. To discover, both in theory and in practice, how photon noise determines the detectability of motion.2. To investigate the role of the adaptive control of processing parameters in extracting motion signals.3. To investigate constraints governing the extraction of discontinuities in optic flow fields and the interpretation of figure/ground relationships.Progress: Six months after starting, I visited the NEC Research Institute in Princeton and learnt that they were 2 years into an almost identical programme. They had achieved our objectives 1 & 2, developing a successful theory of optimal motion detection (J. Phys. I France, 4, 1755-1775, 1994) and applying it to experimental studies of adaptive processing by fly neurons, just as we had proposed. We were forced to abandon our theoretical studies and reassess our objectives. To look at adaptive strategies for combating noise limitations in motion detection (Objectives 1&2) we have developed a new insect preparation, recording from motion detecting neurons in the moth brain. As we anticipated, this nocturnal animal shows a much wider and more explicit repertoire of adaptive processing strategies than the fly, because the moths visual system has evolved to optimise performance at low light levels.We are analysing 4 novel adaptive strategies,1) Parallel estimation of motion on different spatio-temporal scales;2) Adaptive time constants for motion detection;3) Regulation of these time constants by a diurnal rhythm, and4) Temporal smoothing of motion estimates. These adaptive strategies will form the basis for further theoretical work.We have also discovered some of the most sensitive motion detecting neurons so far described, and a new phenomenon associated with motion detection, temporal aliassing. Our objective 3 has been pursued by identifying a new set of neurons in the fly lobula. These neurons respond selectively to small moving targets. Their unique physiological properties are allowing us to examine directly the mechanisms that tune neural networks to local motion discontinuities. On the basis of the large amount of data already collected, we expect to complete at least 2, and possibly 3 substantial papers.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.cam.ac.uk |