Pattern Recognition

Nick Lund
Attention and Pattern Recognition

Introduction
Pattern recognition has been defined as t
he ability to abstract and integrate certain
elements of a stimulus into an organised
scheme for memory storage and retrieval
(Solso,1998).

Features of pattern recognition

Five principles(Solso,1998):
1.Quickly and accurately.
2.Recognise and classify unfamiliar objects
.
3.Accurately recognise shapes and objects fr
om different angles.

Features of pattern recognition

4.Identify patterns and objects even when pa
rtly hidden.
5.Recognise patterns quickly,with ease,and
with automaticity.

Features of pattern recognition

Template matching theories
Feature analysis
Prototype theories

Top-down and bottom-up processing

An examination of the theories of pattern

recognition raises the question of whethe
r pattern recognition involves top-down
or bottom-up processing.

Bottom- up process
Template matching theory
Geons (Structural- description theory)
Feature theory
Prototype theory

Template matching theory

External stumuli matches internal templat
e
Vast numbers of templates are stored
Templates are created by experience
E.x.: visit Russia

Problems:
1) Only occurs when theres a one-to-one mat
ch

Payne and Wenger (1998)

A
A

2) Where are all these templates stored?

3) Slow process
Ex.: recognize 1000-1500 letters a minute
4) To recognize new variations of a pattern
(Solso, 1998)

Geons

(Structural- description theory)

Biederman (1987)
Limited number (24) of simple geometric
shapes , or geons for us to analyse patter
ns.
Ex.: mug v.s. bucket

Geons

Advantage:
Recognize pattern from different angles

Disadvantage:
Cant explain why we recognize a particula
r chair.
Ex.: My face v.s. my friends face

Feature theory
Patterns are recognized by analysis of the
individual features of the pattern.
Ex.: MANGO

M
A

Pandemonium model (Selfridge,

1959)
Four stages of pattern recognition
Image demons: record the image and pa
ss it
Feature demons: analyse the image for s
pecific feature
Ex.:

 Cognitive demons: detect the present fea

ture and shout
Decision demons: pick up the loudest fea
ture

Advantage:
More flexible than template theory
Ex.: A , regardless of size, shape or ori
entation
Neisser:
M N H M V longer RT
(more distracter)
M O M Q G shorter RT

Disadvantage:
1) Fail to account for the effects of context
and expectations
Ex.:

2) Two experiments which cant explain fea

ture theory

a. Fail to detect t in the (Healy)

b. Teacup, eyebrow cup, eye ; eac, ebr (Inho
ff and Topolski)

3) Eysenck and Keane:

How can we recognize patterns when t
heir features are hidden from view?

4) Relationship between the features

Ex. : T v.s. L

The biology of feature theory

Hubel and Wiesel (1959)
In visual cortex:
Simple cells: particular orientation, specific
location
complex cells: lines or edges, in all visual fi
eld
Hypercomplex cells: length and angles, co
mbination of features

Disadvantage:
1) Some questioned the existence of hyper
comlex cells
2) How specialized they need to be?
3) Run out of cells

Prototype theory
External stimuli matches with internal a
bstract prototype
Ex.: R, compare to all other Rs

Solso(1998): two theoretical models

Central-tendency model:
The average, mean
Attribute-frequency model:
Most common combination, mode

Advantage:
1) More economical than template theory
Dont need templates for every shape, size,
orientation

2) Explain the speed of recognition of lette

rs, words and patterns / novel stimuli

Disadvantage:
1) cant explain the effect of context (Eysen
ck, 1993)

old woman v.s. young lady

2) B, R, P have similar prototype

Top-down processing
Word superiority effect
Rat-Man demonstration

Rat-Man demonstration

Rat-Man demonstration

Rat-Man demonstration

The effect of context

Summary
Pattern Recognition
Theories
Template matching
Feature analysis
Prototype

Central-tendency
Attribute- frequency

Summary
Top-down processing

Word superiority effect

Rat-Man demonstration

Bottom- up processing

Pandemonium model
Geons

THE END