Atoms of recognition in human and computer vision #MMPMID26884200
Ullman S; Assif L; Fetaya E; Harari D
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016[Mar]; 113 (10): 2744-9 PMID26884200show ga
Discovering the visual features and representations used by the brain to recognize objects is a central problem in the study of vision. Recent successes in computational models of visual recognition naturally raise the question: Do computer systems and the human brain use similar or different computations? We show by combining a novel method (minimal images) and simulations that the human recognition system uses features and learning processes, which are critical for recognition, but are not used by current models. The study uses a ?phase transition? phenomenon in minimal images, in which minor changes to the image have a drastic effect on its recognition. The results show fundamental limitations of current approaches and suggest directions to produce more realistic and better-performing models.