Cite as:
Sabatini S P, Chessa M, Solari F, 2009, "How embedding prior constraints improves coding and decoding strategies in a neural distributed architecture for depth perception" Perception 38 ECVP Abstract Supplement, page 28

How embedding prior constraints improves coding and decoding strategies in a neural distributed architecture for depth perception

S P Sabatini, M Chessa, F Solari

The energy-based distributed coding approaches for the estimation of binocular disparity can intrinsically embed adaptive mechanisms both at coding and decoding levels. We investigated to what extent prior knowledge of constraints on the local disparity can improve the estimated reliability of a population of binocular energy units, based on a generalization of the phase-shift model (Fleet et al, 1996 Vision Research 36 1839 - 1857) sensitive to 2-D disparities along different orientations. Population activity can be adapted to specific feature constraints by changing the distribution of units, thus minimizing the necessary resources while preserving the reliability of estimates. We assessed the proposed approach by using the ground truth disparity map of a set of image stereo pairs (Scharstein and Szeliski, 2004 International Journal of Computer Vision 47 7 - 42). Knowledge of the disparity values was used to redistribute the sensitivity coverage of the cells' population and its density by properly choosing the phase-shifts, while keeping the other parameters fixed. In particular, we proved that the same reliability is obtained by halving the units of the population. Similarly, the constraints can affect the decoding strategy by properly selecting the cells' responses so as to minimize uncertainty of the estimates.

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