Spiking neuron network sensory processing apparatus and methods

摘要

Apparatus and methods for detecting salient features. In one implementation, an image processing apparatus utilizes latency coding and a spiking neuron network to encode image brightness into spike latency. The spike latency is compared to a saliency window in order to detect early responding neurons. Salient features of the image are associated with the early responding neurons. A dedicated inhibitory neuron receives salient feature indication and provides inhibitory signal to the remaining neurons within the network. The inhibition signal reduces probability of responses by the remaining neurons thereby facilitating salient feature detection within the image by the network. Salient feature detection can be used for example for image compression, background removal and content distribution.

主权项

1. A computerized neuron-based network image processing apparatus comprising a storage medium, said storage medium comprising a plurality of executable instructions being configured to, when executed:
provide feed-forward stimulus associated with a first portion of an image to at least a first plurality of neurons and second plurality of neurons of a network; provide another feed-forward stimulus associated with another portion of said image to at least a third plurality of neurons of said network; cause said first plurality of neurons to encode a first attribute of said first portion into a first plurality of pulse latencies relative to an image onset time; cause said second plurality of neurons to encode a second attribute of said first portion into a second plurality of pulse latencies relative to said image onset time, said second attribute characterizing a different physical characteristic of said image than said first attribute; determine an inhibition indication, based at least in part on one or more pulses associated with said first plurality and said second plurality of pulse latencies, that are characterized by latencies that are within a latency window; and based at least in part on said inhibition indication, prevent encoding of said another portion by said third plurality of neurons.