Perception and the conditioning reflex: vector encoding

Abstract

Color perception is dependent on the generation of an excitation vector which, acting on a pool of color detectors (color detector map), produces a corresponding sensation. The generation of the color excitation vector starts at the retinal level, proceeds in the lateral geniculate body, and reaches color detectors at the cortical level. Following processing at the level of declarative memory and semantic maps, results in a verbal categorization of colors. Parallel to the excitation vector pathway, a network computing color differences is operating. The computation of color differences at the retinal level possibly takes place in phasic bipolar cells and progresses in the lateral geniculate body and at the cortical level. Detectors of color differences are assumed to be a basis of respective numerical estimations in humans. Data from frogs, fish, monkeys and humans are compared.