Transfer of contrast sensitivity in linear visual networks

Contrast sensitivity is a useful measure of the ability of an observer to distinguish contrast signals from noise. Although usually applied to human observers, contrast sensitivity can also be defined operationally for individual visual neurons. In a model linear neuron consisting of a filter and noise source, this operational measure is a function of filter gain, noise power spectrum, signal duration, and a performance criterion. This definition allows one to relate the sensitivities of linear neurons at different levels in the visual pathway. Mathematical formulas describing these relationships are derived, and the general model is applied to the specific problem of relating the sensitivities of parvocellular LGN neurons and cortical simple cells in the primate.