-
Ned Block.
What is Functionalism?.
The Encyclopedia of Philosophy Supplement,
1996.
| Abstract: Functionalism is one of the major proposals that have been offered as solutions to the mind/body problem. Solutions to the mind/body problem usually try to answer questions such as: What is the ultimate nature of the mental? At the most general level, what makes a mental state mental? Or more specifically, What do thoughts have in common in virtue of which they are thoughts? That is, what makes a thought a thought? What makes a pain a pain? Cartesian Dualism said the ultimate nature of the mental was to be found in a special mental substance. Behaviorism identified mental states with behavioral dispositions; physicalism in its most influential version identifies mental states with brain states. Functionalism says that mental states are constituted by their causal relations to one another and to sensory inputs and behavioral outputs. Functionalism is one of the major theoretical developments of Twentieth Century analytic philosophy, and provides the conceptual underpinnings of much work in cognitive science. |
@Article{bloc_96,
author = {Block, Ned},
title = {What is Functionalism?},
journal = {The Encyclopedia of Philosophy Supplement},
year = {1996},
abstract = {Functionalism is one of the major proposals that have been offered as solutions to the mind/body problem. Solutions to the mind/body problem usually try to answer questions such as: What is the ultimate nature of the mental? At the most general level, what makes a mental state mental? Or more specifically, What do thoughts have in common in virtue of which they are thoughts? That is, what makes a thought a thought? What makes a pain a pain? Cartesian Dualism said the ultimate nature of the mental was to be found in a special mental substance. Behaviorism identified mental states with behavioral dispositions; physicalism in its most influential version identifies mental states with brain states. Functionalism says that mental states are constituted by their causal relations to one another and to sensory inputs and behavioral outputs. Functionalism is one of the major theoretical developments of Twentieth Century analytic philosophy, and provides the conceptual underpinnings of much work in cognitive science.},
url = {http://www.nyu.edu/gsas/dept/philo/faculty/block/papers/functionalism.pdf},
keyworkds = {philosophy, functionalism},
rating = {C}
}
-
Jean-François Cardoso.
Equivariant adaptive source separation.
IEEE Trans. on S.P.,
44(45):3017-3030,
1996.
Keywords: ICA,
statistics,
BSS.
| Abstract: Source separation consists in recovering a set of independent signals when only mixtures with unknown coefficients are observed. This paper introduces a class of adaptive algorithms for source separation which implements an adaptive version of equivariant estimation and is henceforth called EASI (Equivariant Adaptive Separation via Independence) . The EASI algorithms are based on the idea of serial updating: this specific form of matrix updates systematically yields algorithms with a simple, parallelizable structure, for both real and complex mixtures. Most importantly, the performance of an EASI algorithm does not depend on the mixing matrix. In particular, convergence rates, stability conditions and interference rejection levels depend only on the (normalized) distributions of the source signals. Close form expressions of these quantities are given via an asymptotic performance analysis. This is completed by some numerical experiments illustrating the effectiveness of the proposed apprach. |
@Article{card_96,
author = {Cardoso, Jean-François},
title = {Equivariant adaptive source separation},
journal = {IEEE Trans. on S.P.},
volume = {44},
number = {45},
pages = {3017-3030},
year = {1996},
rating = {C},
keywords = {ICA, statistics, BSS},
url = {http://citeseer.ist.psu.edu/cardoso96equivariant.html},
abstract = {Source separation consists in recovering a set of independent signals when only mixtures with unknown coefficients are observed. This paper introduces a class of adaptive algorithms for source separation which implements an adaptive version of equivariant estimation and is henceforth called EASI (Equivariant Adaptive Separation via Independence) . The EASI algorithms are based on the idea of serial updating: this specific form of matrix updates systematically yields algorithms with a simple, parallelizable structure, for both real and complex mixtures. Most importantly, the performance of an EASI algorithm does not depend on the mixing matrix. In particular, convergence rates, stability conditions and interference rejection levels depend only on the (normalized) distributions of the source signals. Close form expressions of these quantities are given via an asymptotic performance analysis. This is completed by some numerical experiments illustrating the effectiveness of the proposed apprach.}
}
-
David Coppola and Dale Purves.
The extraordinarily rapid disappearance of entoptic images.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA,
96:8001-8004,
1996.
Keywords: physiology,
psychology,
vision,
perception.
| Abstract: It has been known for more than 40 years that images fade from perception when they are kept at the same position on the retina by abrogating eye movements. Although aspects of this phenomenon were described earlier, the use of close-fitting contact lenses in the 1950s made possible a series of detailed observations on eye movements and visual continuity. In the intervening decades, many investigators have studied the role of image motion on visual perception. Although several controversies remain, it is clear that images deteriorate and in some cases disappear following stabilization; eye movements are, therefore, essential to sustained exoptic vision. The time course of image degradation has generally been reported to be a few seconds to a minute or more, depending upon the conditions. Here we show that images of entoptic vascular shadows can disappear in less than 80 msec. The rapid vanishing of these images implies an active mechanism of image erasure and creation as the basis of normal visual processing. |
| Comments: Très intéressant. |
@Article{copp_purv_96,
author = {Coppola, David and Purves, Dale},
title = {The extraordinarily rapid disappearance of entoptic images},
journal = {Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA},
year = {1996},
volume = {96},
pages = {8001-8004},
comments = {Très intéressant.},
keywords = {physiology, psychology, vision, perception},
rating = {C},
url = {http://www.pnas.org/cgi/reprint/93/15/8001.pdf},
abstract = {It has been known for more than 40 years that images fade from perception when they are kept at the same position on the retina by abrogating eye movements. Although aspects of this phenomenon were described earlier, the use of close-fitting contact lenses in the 1950s made possible a series of detailed observations on eye movements and visual continuity. In the intervening decades, many investigators have studied the role of image motion on visual perception. Although several controversies remain, it is clear that images deteriorate and in some cases disappear following stabilization; eye movements are, therefore, essential to sustained exoptic vision. The time course of image degradation has generally been reported to be a few seconds to a minute or more, depending upon the conditions. Here we show that images of entoptic vascular shadows can disappear in less than 80 msec. The rapid vanishing of these images implies an active mechanism of image erasure and creation as the basis of normal visual processing.}
}
-
S Makeig,
Anthony J. Bell,
Tzyy-Ping Jung,
and Terrence J. Sejnowski Sejnowski.
Independent component analysis of electroencephalographic data.
Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems,
8:145-151,
1996.
Keywords: ICA,
Matlab.
| Comments: Un algorithm d'ICA basé sur les travaux de Tony Bell |
@Article{make_96,
author = {Makeig, S and Bell, Anthony J. and Jung, Tzyy-Ping and Sejnowski, Terrence J. Sejnowski},
title = {Independent component analysis of electroencephalographic data},
journal = {Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems},
year = {1996},
volume = {8},
pages = {145-151},
keywords = {ICA, Matlab},
rating = {C},
comments = {Un algorithm d'ICA basé sur les travaux de Tony Bell}
}
-
B.A. Olshausen and D.J. Field.
Emergence of simple-cell receptive field properties by learning a sparse code for natural images.
Nature,
381:607-609,
1996.
Keywords: vision,
ICA,
information theory.
| Abstract: The receptive fields of simple cells in mammalian primary visual cortex can be characterized as being spatially localized, oriented and bandpass (selective to structure at different spatial scales), comparable to the basis functions of wavelet transforms. One approach to understanding such response properties of visual neurons has been to consider their relationship to the statistical structure of natural images in terms of efficient coding. Along these lines, a number of studies have attempted to train unsupervised learning algorithms on natural images in the hope of developing receptive fields with similar properties, but none has succeeded in producing a full set that spans the image space and contains all three of the above properties. Here we investigate the proposal that a coding strategy that maximizes sparseness is sufficient to account for these properties. We show that a learning algorithm that attempts to find sparse linear codes for natural scenes will develop a complete family of localized, oriented, bandpass receptive fields, similar to those found in the primary visual cortex. The resulting sparse image code provides a more efficient representation for later stages of processing because it possesses a higher degree of statistical independence among its outputs. |
@Article{olsh_fiel_96,
author = {Olshausen, B.A. and Field, D.J.},
title = {Emergence of simple-cell receptive field properties by learning a sparse code for natural images},
journal = {Nature},
year = {1996},
volume = {381},
pages = {607-609},
rating = {B},
keywords = {vision, ICA, information theory},
url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?holding=npg&cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8637596&dopt=Abstract},
abstract = {The receptive fields of simple cells in mammalian primary visual cortex can be characterized as being spatially localized, oriented and bandpass (selective to structure at different spatial scales), comparable to the basis functions of wavelet transforms. One approach to understanding such response properties of visual neurons has been to consider their relationship to the statistical structure of natural images in terms of efficient coding. Along these lines, a number of studies have attempted to train unsupervised learning algorithms on natural images in the hope of developing receptive fields with similar properties, but none has succeeded in producing a full set that spans the image space and contains all three of the above properties. Here we investigate the proposal that a coding strategy that maximizes sparseness is sufficient to account for these properties. We show that a learning algorithm that attempts to find sparse linear codes for natural scenes will develop a complete family of localized, oriented, bandpass receptive fields, similar to those found in the primary visual cortex. The resulting sparse image code provides a more efficient representation for later stages of processing because it possesses a higher degree of statistical independence among its outputs.}
}
-
Michael Oren and Shree K. Nayar.
A theory of specular surface geometry.
International Journal of Computer Vision,
24:105-124,
1996.
Keywords: reflection,
specular surface,
artificial vision.
| Abstract: Atheoretical framework is introduced for the perception of specular surface geometry.Whenan observer moves in three-dimensional space, real scene features such as surface markings remain stationary with respect to the surfaces they belong to. In contrast, a virtual feature which is the specular reflection of a real feature, travels on the surface. Based on the notion of caustics, a feature classification algorithm is developed that distinguishes real and virtual features from their image trajectories that result from observer motion. Next, using support functions of curves, a closed-form relation is derived between the image trajectory of a virtual feature and the geometry of the specular surface it travels on. It is shown that, in the 2D case, where camera motion and the surface profile are coplanar, the profile is uniquely recovered by tracking just two unknown virtual features. Finally, these results are generalized to the case of arbitrary 3D surface profiles that are traveled by virtual features when camera motion is not confined to a plane. This generalization includes a number of mathematical results that substantially enhance the present understanding of specular surface geometry. An algorithm is developed that uniquely recovers 3D surface profiles using a single virtual feature tracked from the occluding boundary of the object. All theoretical derivations and proposed algorithms are substantiated by experiments. |
| Comments: Les bases de la théorie des surfaces spéculares. Entre autre, comment retrouver la géométrie d'une surface spéculaire à partir des transformations de l'image virtuelle qu'elle renvoie. Vieux, mais encore très intéressant. |
@Article{oren_naya_96,
author = {Oren, Michael and Nayar, Shree K.},
title = {A theory of specular surface geometry},
journal = {International Journal of Computer Vision},
year = {1996},
volume = {24},
numbe = {2},
pages = {105-124},
comments = {Les bases de la théorie des surfaces spéculares. Entre autre, comment retrouver la géométrie d'une surface spéculaire à partir des transformations de l'image virtuelle qu'elle renvoie. Vieux, mais encore très intéressant.},
url = {http://www.cs.columbia.edu/CAVE/publinks/nayar_IJCV_1996_2.pdf},
rating = {B},
keywords = {reflection, specular surface, artificial vision},
abstract = {Atheoretical framework is introduced for the perception of specular surface geometry.Whenan observer moves in three-dimensional space, real scene features such as surface markings remain stationary with respect to the surfaces they belong to. In contrast, a virtual feature which is the specular reflection of a real feature, travels on the surface. Based on the notion of caustics, a feature classification algorithm is developed that distinguishes real and virtual features from their image trajectories that result from observer motion. Next, using support functions of curves, a closed-form relation is derived between the image trajectory of a virtual feature and the geometry of the specular surface it travels on. It is shown that, in the 2D case, where camera motion and the surface profile are coplanar, the profile is uniquely recovered by tracking just two unknown virtual features. Finally, these results are generalized to the case of arbitrary 3D surface profiles that are traveled by virtual features when camera motion is not confined to a plane. This generalization includes a number of mathematical results that substantially enhance the present understanding of specular surface geometry. An algorithm is developed that uniquely recovers 3D surface profiles using a single virtual feature tracked from the occluding boundary of the object. All theoretical derivations and proposed algorithms are substantiated by experiments.}
}
-
N. Sadato,
A. Pascual-Leone,
J. Grafman,
V. Ibanez,
M.-P. Deiber,
G. Dold,
and M. Hallett.
Activation of the primary visual cortex by Braille reading in blind subjects.
Nature,
380:526-528,
1996.
Keywords: blind,
neuroscience,
vision.
| Abstract: Primary visual cortex receives visual input from the eyes through the lateral geniculate nuclei, but is not known to receive input from other sensory modalities. Its level of activity, both at rest and during auditory or tactile tasks, is higher in blind subjects than in normal controls, suggesting that it can subserve nonvisual functions; however, a direct effect of non-visual tasks on activation has not been demonstrated. To determine whether the visual cortex receives input from the somatosensory system we used positron emission tomography (PET) to measure activation during tactile discrimination tasks in normal subjects and in Braille readers blinded in early life. Blind subjects showed activation of primary and secondary visual cortical areas during tactile tasks, whereas normal controls showed deactivation. A simple tactile stimulus that did not require discrimination produced no activation of visual areas in either group. Thus in blind subjects, cortical areas normally reserved for vision may be activated by other sensory modalities. |
@Article{sada_96,
author = {Sadato, N. and Pascual-Leone, A. and Grafman, J. and Ibanez, V. and Deiber, M.-P. and Dold, G. and Hallett, M.},
title = {Activation of the primary visual cortex by Braille reading in blind subjects},
journal = {Nature},
year = {1996},
volume = {380},
pages = {526-528},
url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=8606771},
abstract = {Primary visual cortex receives visual input from the eyes through the lateral geniculate nuclei, but is not known to receive input from other sensory modalities. Its level of activity, both at rest and during auditory or tactile tasks, is higher in blind subjects than in normal controls, suggesting that it can subserve nonvisual functions; however, a direct effect of non-visual tasks on activation has not been demonstrated. To determine whether the visual cortex receives input from the somatosensory system we used positron emission tomography (PET) to measure activation during tactile discrimination tasks in normal subjects and in Braille readers blinded in early life. Blind subjects showed activation of primary and secondary visual cortical areas during tactile tasks, whereas normal controls showed deactivation. A simple tactile stimulus that did not require discrimination produced no activation of visual areas in either group. Thus in blind subjects, cortical areas normally reserved for vision may be activated by other sensory modalities.},
keywords = {blind, neuroscience, vision},
rating = {C}
}