Much of what we learn about human sensory processing comes from experiments that use the approach known as psychophysics, in which carefully quantified stimulus parameters are used to obtain highly reproducible, quantifiable responses. Such tests can include, for example, threshold measurements in which a subject responds by telling whether or not a particular stimulus is perceived. Much of what we learn about how the cells of the brain process information comes from animal experiments, in which quantified stimuli produce recordable neural activity that can be measured in a variety of ways. Recently it has become clear that both approaches can be used on some of the same sensory issues. This conference has the specific intent of bringing together vision researchers using both approaches, to address recent successes in relating physiological and psychophysical results from primate and human work, and to stimulate new interdisciplinary and cooperative research in vision among the international community. The publication from the conference will likely have impact on sensory scientists in general, in addition to its value to visual neuroscience and psychology.
