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A Mathematical Model Unlocks the Secrets of Vision
Quanta Magazine ^ | 21 Aug 2019 | Kevin Hartnett

Posted on 08/25/2019 5:04:26 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT

This is the great mystery of human vision: Vivid pictures of the world appear before our mind’s eye, yet the brain’s visual system receives very little information from the world itself. Much of what we “see” we conjure in our heads.

“A lot of the things you think you see you’re actually making up,” said Lai-Sang Young, a mathematician at New York University. “You don’t actually see them.”

New research suggests mathematics is the key.

The visual cortex has a mind of its own.

“You may think of the brain as taking a photograph of what you see in your visual field,” Young said. “But the brain doesn’t take a picture, the retina does, and the information passed from the retina to the visual cortex is sparse.”

They hope to decipher, for example, why we can perceive the flashes in a blinking traffic light, but we don’t see the frame-by-frame action in a movie

(Excerpt) Read more at quantamagazine.org ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Science
KEYWORDS: 1sizefitsall; healthcare; science; vision; visualcortex
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A long but interesting read.
1 posted on 08/25/2019 5:04:26 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
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To: DUMBGRUNT

Barbie: “Math is hard”


2 posted on 08/25/2019 5:07:21 PM PDT by caver
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To: DUMBGRUNT

“...why we can perceive the flashes in a blinking traffic light, but we don’t see the frame-by-frame action in a movie...”
*******************************************
A small minority CAN detect (or at least be bothered by) the “flashes” in cinema. Fortunately, I’m not among that small group.


3 posted on 08/25/2019 5:12:19 PM PDT by House Atreides (Boycott the NFL 100% — PERMANENTLY)
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To: caver
[Barbie: “Math is hard”]


4 posted on 08/25/2019 5:15:58 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

You know something which fascinates me?

I have a Russian 7X30 binocular. It is the real military model and exceptionally sharp optically. It has a very unusual focusing system. It has individual focusing eye pieces which is not unusual in military binoculars. That is more sturdy and easier to make waterproof.

The unusual thing is that as you focus an eyepiece it has a slight zoom function. If your eyes require different diopter settings, as mine do, then one side will have more magnification than the other.

The amazing thing to me is your brain will combine the two sides into the same magnification without your even knowing.


5 posted on 08/25/2019 5:19:17 PM PDT by yarddog
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To: House Atreides

Saburo Sakai, the Japanese fighter pilot claims that he could make out stars during daylight.


6 posted on 08/25/2019 5:21:16 PM PDT by yarddog
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To: DUMBGRUNT

What about liberals, what is their mathematical model? 1 + 1 = 63?

“We can see Trump is racist using the insane logic that he’s never criticized someones race before like we do every day when it comes to white people! Why we even mandate criticizing the white race in New York city schools but nobody says that’s racist because we are liberals and if you criticize us for being racist that means YOU’RE racist!”


7 posted on 08/25/2019 5:23:11 PM PDT by GrandJediMasterYoda (As long as Hillary walks free, equal justice under the law will never exist in the USA)
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To: yarddog

Amazing thing this human brain, brought to you by evolution over billions of years. /s


8 posted on 08/25/2019 5:23:57 PM PDT by Fungi
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To: All
The better version


9 posted on 08/25/2019 5:24:12 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
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To: yarddog
I have a Jason 10×50 auto focus.

Take your glasses off and instant focus when viewed through.

Tested with Mom who wore Coke Bottle glasses at the time and she said they were great

10 posted on 08/25/2019 5:27:22 PM PDT by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's fore sure)
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To: House Atreides

“A small minority CAN detect (or at least be bothered by) the “flashes” in cinema.”

LED lights borher me.

It is the frame rate. Some people have a much better recognition than others. The mind fills in the gaps.


11 posted on 08/25/2019 5:27:24 PM PDT by READINABLUESTATE (You cannot solidify control and power over people who are able to defend themselves.)
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To: GrandJediMasterYoda

In post#9, I see 1 + 1 = 36C...


12 posted on 08/25/2019 5:27:31 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: GrandJediMasterYoda
[What about liberals, what is their mathematical model? 1 + 1 = 63?]




13 posted on 08/25/2019 5:30:23 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
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To: Fungi

ha, you beat me to it.


14 posted on 08/25/2019 5:31:08 PM PDT by raygunfan
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To: DUMBGRUNT

Bookmark


15 posted on 08/25/2019 5:31:53 PM PDT by Southside_Chicago_Republican (The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog.)
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To: DUMBGRUNT
This would explain much of liberal ideas:

“A lot of the things you think you see you’re actually making up,”

Does the NYT know about this theory?

16 posted on 08/25/2019 5:55:40 PM PDT by G Larry (There is no great virtue in bargaining with the Devil)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

“Believe half of what you see, son, and none of what you hear” - Marvin Gaye


17 posted on 08/25/2019 5:57:54 PM PDT by Hardastarboard (Three most annoying words on the internet - "Watch the video")
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To: DUMBGRUNT

Coincidence....

I was just researching this at 3 am this morning... Rod photo receptor neurons are stimulated by white light while there are three cone photo receptor neurons. One each for long wave frequency (red), medium wave frequency (green), and short wave frequency(blue.)

My mind was comparing this to the frequencies of consciousness and the combinations creating a standing wave of white light, an intrinsic attribute of higher frequency consciousness and enlightenment.

Typical 3 am thoughts for me. I wake up downloading this info in my sleep.


18 posted on 08/25/2019 6:42:39 PM PDT by tired&retired (Blessings)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

I’ve always wondered what people who were blind from birth see in their mind’s eye?


19 posted on 08/25/2019 6:45:10 PM PDT by umgud
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To: DUMBGRUNT

So when I see a really hot babe, am I really seeing one or imagining it??


20 posted on 08/25/2019 6:45:58 PM PDT by dp0622 (Bad, bad company Till the day I die.)
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