Uncertainty explains many aspects of visual contrast detection and discrimination.

摘要: More than 20 years ago, Tanner [Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 89, 752 (1961)] noted that observers asked to detect a signal act as though they are uncertain about the physical characteristics of be detected. The popular assumptions probability summation and decision variable, taken together, imply this uncertainty. This paper defines uncertainty model visual detection assumes observer is among many signals chooses likeliest. With only four parameters, explains why d' approximately power function contrast ("nonlinear transduction") accurately predicts effects summation, facilitation, noise, subjective criterion, task for near-threshold contrast. Thus offers synthesis much our current understanding discrimination.