On the computational neurobiology of curve detection

The Dilemma of Curve Detection from previous ones in that no attempt is made to match curves directly against the image, or even against measurements (i.e., "curve operators") evaluated over the image. Instead we stress the organizational point that a stable, reliable, but coarse description should be computed as an intermediate between the image (measurements) and the global curves. A particular intermediate representation—the discrete tangent field—is proposed.