A Visual Selection Mechanism Based on a Pulse-Coupled Neural Network

In this paper a visual selection mechanism based on the pulse-coupled neural network is proposed for discriminating one object among others in a given visual scene by delivering the focus of attention to the salient object. In comparison to other visual selection approaches, this model presents at least two new features. First, it is able to highlight not only objects or components of objects in simple forms, but also objects in complex forms, including those that are non-linear separable, and second it provides a shifting mechanism from one previously selected object to another. Computer simulations are performed and the results show that the proposed model is promising as a selection mechanism embedded in a visual attention system.