意识下自然场景目标识别的认知过程研究

The human visual system can quickly and efficiently recognize objects from a complex natural scene, but this is still a very challenging task for computers. Current research of object recognition in natural scenes involves multiple scientific disciplines, such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Vision, Pattern Recognition, Cognitive Science and Neuroscience. Studies using Event-related potentials (ERPs) have shown that the neural signature of object recognition in natural scenes does affect ERPs. Most of the researche investigating object recognition in natural scenes was conducted in the conscious condition, and few reports involved the unconscious condition. In our research, a new paradigm for unconscious visual processing (continuous flash suppression, CFS) will be used. By recording ERPs during the experiment, the brain mechanisms of object recognition in natural scenes in the unconscious condition will be examined. The aim of our study is to investigate to which degree object recognition in natural scenes depend on consciousness. Our research is valuable for the study of of the perception of unconscious visual stimuli and especially object recognition. Furthermore, our study will help the understanding of human intelligence, and the knowledge gained may be utilized to improve algorithms used in artificial intelligence. On the other hand, the findings of our research will be useful in machine vision, with possible applications for national security, general robotics and human-computer interaction.

自然场景目标的快速识别对人类来说是轻松容易的任务，但对目前的计算机来说却仍面临巨大难度；这既是人工智能、机器视觉、模式识别等领域的研究重点；也是认知科学、神经科学等领域的重要方向。目前的相关研究大部分都是在 “意识上”展开的，鲜有对“意识下”自然场景目标识别的研究。本项目采用改进的双眼竞争范式：连续闪烁抑制(CFS)实现对意识上视觉信息的抑制，利用事件相关电位(ERP)完成对意识下自然场景目标识别的研究，进而探讨“对自然场景中目标识别的认知过程是否依赖于意识？”这一科学问题。本研究一方面对推动意识下认知活动的研究具有重要科学意义；另一方面，开展具体的意识下自然场景目标识别认知研究，是对自然场景认知研究的必要补充，同时也可以加深对人类智能的认识，促进认知科学在人工智能领域的应用，具有重要的学术价值。还可以将本项目的研究成果应用到机器视觉中，对国家安全、机器人技术、人机交互具有重要的实用价值。

自然场景目标的快速识别对人类来说是轻松容易的任务，但对目前的计算机来说却仍面临巨大难度；这既是人工智能、机器视觉、模式识别等领域的研究重点；也是认知科学、神经科学等领域的重要方向。目前的相关研究大部分都是在 “意识上”展开的，鲜有对“意识下”自然场景目标识别的研究。本项目采用改进的双眼竞争范式：连续闪烁抑制(CFS)实现对意识上视觉信息的抑制，利用事件相关电位(ERP)完成对意识下自然场景目标识别的研究，.对于一些关键问题：如大脑对自然场景的快速目标识别过程，是否有需要意识？若不需要意识，那其在意识下和意识上的认知机制是否一致？它们在时间进程上的处理是否一致？进行研究。经过一系列实验和研究工作，我们发现即使在意识下我们的大脑对自然场景的目标识别产生反应，也就是说对自然场景的认知是不依赖于意识的；而且研究结果显示意识上和意识下的认知过程呈现出相反的脑部活动。