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Mach bands: Quantitative studies on neural networks in the retina
important geneticists
book had he introduced to vision. But perhaps
Mach Bands: Quantitative Holden-Day. San Francisco
vision specialists to genclticc 35 carct’ullq :L\ ht’ IntroducC4 this \vas not his purpo~. S11k.l.r)oN GRE1.X T. SHIPLEY
Studies on Neural Networks in the Retina, (1965). Pp. xii x 365. 512.95.
by F. RATLIFF.
IN AN era of science in which scholars too often dilute their own responsibility with that of their colleagues, their inspiration with that of their associates, their style with that of their editors, and their intellectual discernment with that of their graduate students, it is pleasing to read so convincing a personal statement. Perhaps this book is as much a sign of the return to full maturity in visual science as it is of Ratliff’s grasp of the direction in which this science ought to move. Amidst a sophisticated mathematical and physiological analysis, we find ourselves beautifully involved in an impassioned epistemology and in the complex history of ideas in our field. Experiments are seldom done only for their inherent appeal, but most often for some special higher unity into which the researcher feels that he will thereby be led. This unity may be spiritual, aesthetic, or humanistic, or perhaps some other, but it is the raison d’t’tre of the scientific adventure, and Ratliff has elegantly served to remind us of this fact. The book will stand on these grounds as firmly as on its more positivistic scientific ones, and for many years. “Perhaps . . . the choice between solipsism and pure realism does not exist. And perhaps the furtherance of objective knowledge of what we call the real physical world is not the most pressing problem of our times. Rather, it may be that what we require most of all-to sustain mankind and civilization-is further knowledge of man himself” (p. 249-and on the book-jacket we find Yin and Yang!). With this model of proud humanism before us, vision specialists will hardly need to be embarrassed by the growing concern they may have for why they work. This book serves as a proper introduction to the six papers of Ernst Mach (appearing here in translation), which started the scientific analysis of lateral interaction effects in the retina so many years ago. On the basis of Ratliff’s review (particularly good on the theory) these effects still remain an exciting challenge. Many of the electrophysiological arguments naturally center on Hartline’s and Ratliff’s findings from the Limulus; nevertheless, the discussion is clearly relevant to the eye in general. In ail, six mathematical models are discussed. Emphasis is placed throughout on lateral inhibitory rather than excitatory interaction. The technical details must be read directly and cannot be adequately reviewed. Chapter 5, entitled “Appearance and Reality”, deals with the uniquely human vision because it is only human sight which can look beyond appearance. The problem of whether what one sees is a real stripe, i.e. is physically there, or whether what one sees is a Mach band, i.e. is there only physiologically, appears to be pertinent to areas as diverse as the measurement of the wavelength of the X-ray and the color quality control in Gobelin tapestry. In general, this is a pure and refined intellectual treat. Ratliff’s book is one of the most exciting books to appear in visual science in at least a decade. T. SHIPLEY
book had he introduced to vision. But perhaps
Mach Bands: Quantitative Holden-Day. San Francisco
vision specialists to genclticc 35 carct’ullq :L\ ht’ IntroducC4 this \vas not his purpo~. S11k.l.r)oN GRE1.X T. SHIPLEY
Studies on Neural Networks in the Retina, (1965). Pp. xii x 365. 512.95.
by F. RATLIFF.
IN AN era of science in which scholars too often dilute their own responsibility with that of their colleagues, their inspiration with that of their associates, their style with that of their editors, and their intellectual discernment with that of their graduate students, it is pleasing to read so convincing a personal statement. Perhaps this book is as much a sign of the return to full maturity in visual science as it is of Ratliff’s grasp of the direction in which this science ought to move. Amidst a sophisticated mathematical and physiological analysis, we find ourselves beautifully involved in an impassioned epistemology and in the complex history of ideas in our field. Experiments are seldom done only for their inherent appeal, but most often for some special higher unity into which the researcher feels that he will thereby be led. This unity may be spiritual, aesthetic, or humanistic, or perhaps some other, but it is the raison d’t’tre of the scientific adventure, and Ratliff has elegantly served to remind us of this fact. The book will stand on these grounds as firmly as on its more positivistic scientific ones, and for many years. “Perhaps . . . the choice between solipsism and pure realism does not exist. And perhaps the furtherance of objective knowledge of what we call the real physical world is not the most pressing problem of our times. Rather, it may be that what we require most of all-to sustain mankind and civilization-is further knowledge of man himself” (p. 249-and on the book-jacket we find Yin and Yang!). With this model of proud humanism before us, vision specialists will hardly need to be embarrassed by the growing concern they may have for why they work. This book serves as a proper introduction to the six papers of Ernst Mach (appearing here in translation), which started the scientific analysis of lateral interaction effects in the retina so many years ago. On the basis of Ratliff’s review (particularly good on the theory) these effects still remain an exciting challenge. Many of the electrophysiological arguments naturally center on Hartline’s and Ratliff’s findings from the Limulus; nevertheless, the discussion is clearly relevant to the eye in general. In ail, six mathematical models are discussed. Emphasis is placed throughout on lateral inhibitory rather than excitatory interaction. The technical details must be read directly and cannot be adequately reviewed. Chapter 5, entitled “Appearance and Reality”, deals with the uniquely human vision because it is only human sight which can look beyond appearance. The problem of whether what one sees is a real stripe, i.e. is physically there, or whether what one sees is a Mach band, i.e. is there only physiologically, appears to be pertinent to areas as diverse as the measurement of the wavelength of the X-ray and the color quality control in Gobelin tapestry. In general, this is a pure and refined intellectual treat. Ratliff’s book is one of the most exciting books to appear in visual science in at least a decade. T. SHIPLEY