Can computational goals inform theories of vision?

Topics in Cognitive Science
Barton L Anderson

Abstract

One of the most lasting contributions of Marr's posthumous book is his articulation of the different "levels of analysis" that are needed to understand vision. Although a variety of work has examined how these different levels are related, there is comparatively little examination of the assumptions on which his proposed levels rest, or the plausibility of the approach Marr articulated given those assumptions. Marr placed particular significance on computational level theory, which specifies the "goal" of a computation, its appropriateness for solving a particular problem, and the logic by which it can be carried out. The structure of computational level theory is inherently teleological: What the brain does is described in terms of its purpose. I argue that computational level theory, and the reverse-engineering approach it inspires, requires understanding the historical trajectory that gave rise to functional capacities that can be meaningfully attributed with some sense of purpose or goal, that is, a reconstruction of the fitness function on which natural selection acted in shaping our visual abilities. I argue that this reconstruction is required to distinguish abilities shaped by natural selection-"natural tasks" -from evo...Continue Reading

References

Sep 21, 1979·Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Containing Papers of a Biological Character·S J Gould, R C Lewontin
Aug 1, 1985·Perception & Psychophysics·S Grossberg, E Mingolla
Feb 1, 1996·Molecular Biology and Evolution·A BarbadillaR C Lewontin
Nov 26, 1999·Neuron·B L Anderson, H C Barth
Mar 15, 2001·Vision Research·W S GeislerD P Gallogly
May 31, 2002·Nature Neuroscience·Wilson S Geisler, Daniel Kersten
Mar 8, 2011·Current Biology : CB·Barton L AndersonHilary Barth
Sep 11, 2012·Current Biology : CB·Phillip J MarlowBarton L Anderson
Dec 4, 2013·Journal of Vision·Phillip J Marlow, Barton L Anderson
Mar 17, 2015·Topics in Cognitive Science·John Bickle

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Citations

Mar 3, 2015·Topics in Cognitive Science·Richard P Cooper, David Peebles
Sep 20, 2015·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review·Barton L Anderson
Feb 16, 2019·The Behavioral and Brain Sciences·Hilary C BarthAndrea L Patalano
Mar 28, 2019·Scientific Reports·Derek H ArnoldAlan Johnston
May 8, 2021·Nature Human Behaviour·Katherine R StorrsRoland W Fleming

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