Image Analysis

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Image analysis is a term generally taken to mean the analysis of visual images by computer. Visual images pose special problems for analysis of their content. The human perceptual system is specialized to analyse visual images, in particular distinguish-

Language errors and illusions of vision

Notes: The skeletal Necker cube switches in depth; the upper line of the Ponzo figure looks too long; the Tri-bar (also known as the Devil’s tuning fork) looks impossible; the ghostly square—the Kanizsa figure—does not exist

ing figures from backgrounds or identifying boundaries or groupings of objects.

Nevertheless, image analysis by computers is preferred under conditions such as when there is a large volume of material for analysis (as in the processing of histological specimens—see HISTOLOGY) or when aspects of the image must be quantified objectively. Computers are, in many respects, less good than a human observer. Nevertheless, there are techniques of image analysis which produce consistent results. For example, it is possible to measure the density of pixels of colour and this technique can be used to count histologically-stained neurons (and indeed other cells) or to quantify extent and location of regions of brain activity, as obtained for example from PET (positron emission tomography) scans.

ERIC M.BOWMAN

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