Computational origins of shape perception.

ABSTRACT: Shape perception is central to human vision, but its developmental origins remain unknown. Here we show that shape perception develops from three ingredients: (1) generic fitting systems, (2) embodied visual experiences, and (3) biologically plausible sensors. We first show that generic fitting models (transformers) trained on embodied visual experiences change from color-based to shape-based visual systems. We then perform in silico controlled-rearing experiments to determine what causes this developmental change. We find that view diversity-experiencing many views of the same object-produces shape perception. For embodied agents, view diversity comes for free: by moving through the world, agents acquire diverse temporally linked views, explaining how and why animals develop shape percept

SUBMITTER: Pandey L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12704854 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature