Neuroscience

Neurophysiological Based Methods of Guided Image Search

Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) award to develop a new model of visual feature detection, the Neuronal Synchrony Model, based on neurophysiological models of temporal neuronal processing, to improve the accuracy of automatic detection of features of interest in complex natural imagery. The Neuronal Synchrony Model of image feature detection is applied to accurately identify and highlight regions of images that contain target features, thus automating the labor-intensive, "scanning" portion of imagery analysis. The accuracy of the Neuronal Synchrony Model is tested with natural images containing visually controlled, synthetic targets as well as with natural targets using a variety of overhead imagery background and target types. The output of this effort is a proof-of-concept demonstration of the effectiveness of this model in enhancing the speed and accuracy of interactive, guided visual search of representative imagery.