Edge detection and localization are important physical features of object images to be modeled and recognized by the human brain. To develop robust computer vision system methodologies, ones that have a range of applicability, we need early vision operators capable of matching a level of human perceptual performance. In this paper the physics of interaction between human retina cells and the incident light is developed. The suggested model which includes the receptor, intermediate, and ganglion cells, summarizes the knowledge obtained from electrophysiological and histological data published in the open literature during the last twenty years. Our analysis identifies at what scale neighboring edges start influencing the response of Laplacian of Gaussian operator. The use of human preattentive vision is the optimal choice for the electronic hardware implementation of the edge detector, because the concept of parallel processing is satisfied. The study of functional aspects of this model gives some first suggestions for the development of a rational theory of visual information processing. A computer simulation is used to test the performance of this approach.
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