Wize University Psychology Textbook > Sensation & Perception
Feature Detectors
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Feature Detection
Cells in the visual cortex, called feature cells or feature detectors, respond selectively to various components of a visual image, such as orientation of lines, colour, and movement.
Example - in the above image, the feature cells that are being measured respond to vertical lines. They fire the most in response to vertical lines, basically not at all for horizontal lines, and a little bit for diagonal lines.
Binding problem - we still do not know how all of these features get "bound" to form a single object. How is it that a round shape with green and red colouring and a straight line sticking out of the top becomes "apple"?
Practice: Feature Detectors
If a cell in the visual cortex responds strongly to red objects, which of the following would you expect the least response to?