Luminance and color inputs to mid-level and high-level vision

Abstract

We investigated the interdependence of activity within the luminance (L þ M) and opponent chromatic (L M and S [LþM]) postreceptoral mechanisms in mid-level and high-level vision. Mid-level processes extract contours and perform figure-background organization whereas high-level processes depend on additional semantic input, such as object knowledge. We collected mid-level (good/poor continuation) and high-level (object/nonobject) two-alternative forced-choice discrimination threshold data over a range of conditions that isolate mechanisms or simultaneously stimulate them. The L M mechanism drove discrimination in the presence of very low luminance inputs. Contrastdependent interactions between the luminance and L M as well as combined L M and S (L þ M) inputs were also found, but S (L þ M) signals, on their own, did not interact with luminance. Mean mid-level and high-level thresholds were related, with luminance providing inputs capable of sustaining performance over a broader, linearly corresponding range of contrasts when compared to L M signals. The observed interactions are likely to be driven by L M signals and relatively low luminance signals (approximately 0.05– 0.09 L þ M contrast) facilitating each other. The results are consistent with previous findings on low-level interactions between chromatic and luminance signals and demonstrate that functional interdependence between the geniculate mechanisms extends to the highest stages of the visual hierarchy.