Primates Visual Cortex Inspired Novel Edge Detection Method

Edge detection is one of the basic operations performed in the striate cortex of the primate visual cortex. In order to investigate the process of edge detection and directional feature extraction, detailed morphology of direction-selective ganglion cell (DSGC) has been designed incorporating electrophysiological, physicochemical and structural attributes of a neuron and implemented in a spiking neural network to replicate the behavior of DSGC layer in striate cortex. Simulation results successfully replicate the behavior of DSGC and suggest edge detection as early operation in the primate visual cortex. Results suggest non-maxima suppression as an inherent feature of such networks and edge reconstruction might be achieved due to max-pooling like operation in a single-cell neighborhood with four DSGC depth response.