Vision Books

 

Note in particular:

Sekuler R and Blake R (1994). Perception 3rd Edition. New York, McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-056085. £22.95

Gregory R.L (1998). Eye and Brain: The psychology of seeing. 5th Edition.  Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-852412-9. (paperback)

Hart W.M (Ed) (1992). Adler's Physiology of the Eye. 9th Edition. St. Louis. Mosby. ISBN 0-8016-2107-0. £59-95.

Davson H (1990). Physiology of the Eye. 5th Edition. Basingstoke. MacMillan. ISBN 0-333-45860-5. £69.50.

Spillman L and Werner J.S (1990). Visual Perception: The Neurophysiological Foundations. San Diego, Academic Press. ISBN 0-12-6576769. £45.00. Now out of print

De Valois R.L and De Valois K.K (1990). Spatial Vision. Oxford. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-506657-X. £25.00.

Bruce V, Green P.R. and Georgeson M.A. (1996). Visual Perception: Physiology, Psychology and Ecology. 3rd Edition. Hove. LEA. ISBN 0-86377-451-2. £14.95.

Tovee M.J. (1996) An Introduction to the Visual System. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-48339-5. £12.95
 
Steven H. Schwartz, Visual perception, a clinical orientation, Appleton & Lange,   Norwal, Conn., 1994

Zeki, Semir A Vision of the Brain. Blackwell Scientific Publications,  1993

Dowling J.E. Neurons and Networks: An Introduction to Neuroscience Harvard University Press 1992

Hubel, D.H. Eye, Brain and Vision. Scientific American Library Paperback,   1995 ISBN 0-7167-6009-6

Purves, D. Augustine, G.J. Fitzpatrick, D. Katz, L.C. LaMantia, A-S, McNamara, J.O. (Eds.) Neuroscience . Sinauer Associates, Inc, ISBN 0-87893-747-1, 1997
 

Comments on Psychology/Physiology Vision books

In the list below, (which was taken from a list of suggested visual perception books suitable for undergraduates/postgraduates) the comments in italics are those of other people, the comments in capitals are mine  (P.A.Howarth, 20 February 1998)

Bruce, V., Green, P.R. and Georgeson, M.A. (1996) "Visual Perception: Physiology, Psychology, Ecology" 3rd Edition. Published by Psychology Press (Laurence Erlbaum Associate), Hove, UK.

(THIS IS THE LATEST EDITION OF THE BOOK THAT WAS BRUCE AND GREEN)

The thing I like in particular about this book is that it deals separately with three different approaches to understanding visual perception and discusses the pros and cons of each. Possibly some of the more technical information in the chapters on depth and motion are a bit advanced for beginners, but the details are bang up to date. My only complaint is that it does not deal with colour vision at all, so it can never be the sole basis for a vision course.

This book is in a class of its own among perception texts, which generally have much more glitz and far less theoretical depth. It is the only text I know of that gives reasonably balanced and serious treatment of the three leading (and contrasting) theoretical approaches to current research, including Marr's computational approach. It also includes an excellent cross-section of the empirical literature, from psychophysics & neuroscience to computational algorithms to animal behaviour. The coverage is unusually broad and sophisticated, yet conceptually accessible to motivated students. The only thing lacking are the 'bells & whistles' that have become standard fare of texts these days -- no cute sidebars or boxes, no chapter study sections. There are plenty of illustrations, but there are no colour plates (that's the only feature I really miss).

Bruce & Green's book is more challenging than 'standard' texts like those by Sekuler & Blake; Schiffman; Goldstein; etc., and it is much broader in perspective than such classics as Gibson's and Marr's. I have found it doesn't fare so well with half-interested undergraduates [I suspect they miss the glitz & resent the mind-stretching], but I would give it very serious consideration for an entry level graduate course (or second-level undergraduate course), most likely with a selection of supplementary items from the primary literature.
 

Sekuler and Blake: Perception 2nd Edition McGraw-Hill (1990).

This sounds like it will be a very strong competitor for your particular needs. It has some holes eg. development is pretty much left out and, curiously, given the authors, motion perception is not very comprehensively covered. But takes quite a neurobiological angle. Probably OK for about a third year level course. Too long and detailed as an intro in my opinion.

Sekuler & Blake Perception I ought to like this book more than I do. The 2nd edition is printed on very thin paper that makes it ghastly to read and the illustrations are dull. Also rather too much on auditory, taste, smell, touch stuff. I am always suspicious of vision people writing about other senses; they nearly always get it wrong.

Goldstein, E. Bruce Sensation and Perception, 3rd ed. Wadsworth

Publishing Co. isbn 0-534-09672-7.

Sensation and Perception_ 3rd ed. is pretty good, also the emphasis is on physiological aspects of visual perception although it touches upon different approaches as well.

Goldstein: Sensation and Perception Rather similar to S/B but without the holes and with less detail and references. My choice (at the moment) as the lowest-level Perception book on the market. But still too much for the intro class - and too little for a third year class.

Goldstein Sensation and Perception 3rd Edition Wadsworth (1989). A solid introductory text that the students like. Has an unusual (and successful) chapter on movement perception describing "5 ways to make a light move".

Sensation & Perception (upper division class, intro to sensory psych) I used Goldstein's book "Sensation & Perception." This book has been around for a while, I used the 3rd ed. The publisher is Wadsworth, Belmont CA, ISBN 0-534-09672-7.

There is another book by Blake & Sekuler, but I didn't think the coverage is quite as good. It is more focussed on vision, while Goldstein covers all the senses.

Levine & Shefner Sensation and Perception 2nd Edition Brooks/Cole (1991).

ISBN for ordering is 0-534-4977-9-9.

Strong on neurophysiological approaches, sinewave gratings and the like. A shame it doesn't include anything on the computational side.

Cornsweet, T. N. (1970) Visual Perception. New York: Academic Press.
EASY TO READ, BUT NOW OUT OF PRINT. REPLACED BY WANDELL (SEE BELOW)

Steven H. Schwartz, Visual perception, a clinical orientation, Appleton & Lange,Norwal, Conn., 1994

(this is widely used as a text for monocular sensory processes of vision courses in optometry schools).

EASY TO READ, BUT NOT ALL THAT COMPREHENSIVE

Barlow, H.B. and Mollon, J.D. (1989). The Senses. Cambridge University Press
Spillmann L. & Werner J. (eds.), "Visual Perception, The Neurophysiological Foundations", 1990, Academic Press. ISBN 0-12-657676-9, available in paperback.
[could very well serve as THE single textbook, has so much in it] *quite* good. There are some mistakes in the sections on colour and some lack of clarity in the stereo sections, but it does cover some psychophysics, physiology, and a bit of computation.
Zeki, Semir A Vision of the Brain. Blackwell Scientific Publications,
1993 isbn 0-632-03054-2 $36.95.

A possibility for final year or graduate students. Very recently published book on recent advances in understanding localization of brain functions, with a heavy emphasis on the history. Again, not an introductory text at all, but an excellent addendum. Also, although it's probably not quite what your after, I've just finished Zeki's new book ("A Vision of the Brain"). It really is a fascinating read, and there are valuable lessons for the young contained in some of the historical stuff about cortical localisation of different visual capacities.
 

Dowling J.E. Neurons and Networks: An Introduction to Neuroscience Harvard University Press 1992
Roger Watt's book entitled "Understanding Vision" (Academic Press, 1991).
Principles of Neuroscience; 3 rd edition 1991 Kandel; Schwartz: Jessel, Chapters: 28-31 (pp400-480).
"Theories of Visual Perception" by Ian Gordon, published by John Wiley & Sons.
The edition I've been reading is 1989, but there may be an updated version. It includes psycophysics (Gestalt, Gibson) chapters on neurobiology (eg Hubel and Wiesel etc) and computational theories (ie Marr etc).
Bridgeman, B. "The Biology of Behavior and Mind", 1988, Wiley & Sons.
[many good chapters on visual perception]
Barlow, Blakemore, Weston-Smith (eds), Images and Understanding", 1990, Cambridge Univ. Press.
[should be available for perusal, for stimulation and further motivation]
Watt, R., "Visual Processing: Computational, Psychophysical & Cognitive Research", 1988, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
[easy mathematical analyses of feature detection; should be available as a compendium for reference]
A Taxonomy of Visual Processes, by Uttal.
Heavy on philosophical organization of the material, in a manner that I find useful. Not to everyone's taste.
The Handbook of Perception and Human Performance, Volume I, ed. by Boff, Kaufman and Thomas.
This is an excellent high-level engineering-oriented presentation of (among other things) the visual system. Important chapters include "The Eye as Optical Instrument", "Sensitivity to Light", "Color Appearance", "Colorimetry and Color Discrimination".
Eye, Brain, and Vision. A 1987 Scientific American BOOK by David Hubel.
This book is likely to be the most accessible to an introductory group.
DeValois R.L. and DeValois, K.K. (1990). Spatial Vision. Oxford University Press
AN EXCELLENT BOOK, BUT REALLY FOR THE POST-GRAD STUDENT
Scientific American Readings in The Perceptual World.
[The book's title is The Perceptual World, Editor is Irvin Rock and the publisher is Scientific American.]
"Science of vision" edited by K.N. Leibovic may meet your needs. It was published by Springer-Verlag New York in 1990.
Vision by David Marr (Late of MIT). W. H. Freeman and Company.
To an extent ( a few chapters) of
Digital Pictures: Representation and compression by A. N. Netravali and B. G. Haskell (both with AT&T Bell Labs). Plenum Press.
Handbook of sensory physiology v.7: Visual Psychophysics. Springer-Verlag.
This might seem a bit whacky but one of the most interesting books I have found on visual perception is
"The Joy of Drawing" by Bill Martin,
Watson-Guptill Publications, New York 1993. This book is about teaching art students to understand how people interpret images. I am doing work on extracting 3D models from images and I have gotten several insights from this book. Generally I find that artists know a lot about image understanding, they just don't realize that thats what they are doing!
Humphreys, Glyn W., editor Understanding Vision. Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1992 isbn 0-631-1709-7
Buser, Pierre & Imbert, Michel (translated by R.H. Kay) Vision. MIT Press (Bradford Books), 1992 (I don't know if this is the translation date or original publication date) isbn 0-262-02336-9 $45.00.
Barlow, H., Blakemore, C. & Weston-Smith, M.(eds.) Images and Understanding. Cambridge University Press, 1990. isbn 0 521 36944 4.
Mark D. Fairchild, "Color Appearance Models", Addison-Wesley, Reading, Mass. (1998) ISBN 0-201-63464-3
More information can be found at <http://www.awl.com/cseng/titles/0-201-63464-3 .
Martin Tovee: 'An introduction to the visual system' (Cambridge Univ. Press). My favorite is book for teaching is still Sekuler & Blake's.
"Foundations of Vision", by Brian Wandell.
It has more about colour and less about neurophysiology than I would consider ideal, but is overall the best I know.
Richard Clement, Introduction to Vision Science, Erlbaum Associates, Hillsdale, NJ, 1993.
Somewhat rigorous mathematically (including Fourier analysis, Laplace transforms, colour spaces, matrix optics, etc.). Not bad!
COREN, WARD, & ENNS (1994) 4th Ed. Sensation and Perception.
HUMAN COLOR VISION, Second Edition by Peter K. Kaiser and Robert M. Boynton Published by Optical Society of America
"Vision, Brain, Cooperative Computation (Arbib & Hanson, Eds., I think it is 1987) is not a text, but a collection of articles on computational vision, it might be worth looking at.

READING LIST FOR 97HUC202 PHYSIOLOGY OF THE VISUAL SYSTEM

Zeki, S. A Vision of the Brain Blackwell Scientific Publications Ltd 1993.
Dowling J.E. Neurons and Networks: An Introduction to Neuroscience Harvard University Press 1992
See also:
Davson, H. Davson's Physiology of the Eye Macmillan 1990
Adler, F.H. Adler's Physiology of the Eye: Clinical Applications 9th ed. revised by W M Hart Jnr. Mosley year Book 1992
Sekular & Blake Perception (3rd Ed.) McGraw Hill

READING LIST FOR 98HUB103 VISION

RECOMMENDED READING LIST:

These two books are HIGHLY recommended.  I suggest that you purchase one, if not both.  The first gives more information about other senses, and perception, whereas the latter concentrates on vision (and visual illusions).

Sekular R and Blake R (1994), Perception     3rd edition.   McGrawHill

Gregory R.L (1998). Eye and Brain: The psychology of seeing.    5th Edition.  Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-852412-9. (paperback)
 

The following books are recommeded for reference; I do not suggest that you purchase any, unless they are also useful on other modules (e.g. Wilson and Corlett for Ergonomics students):
 
DO NOT  READ GENERAL ANATOMY/PHYSIOLOGY TEXTS IN THIS AREA - THESE OFTEN CONTAIN MISCONCEPTIONS!)
 

Applied Ergonomics Handbook: Chapter 9, The Environment - Vision and Lighting (1987) I. Galer (Ed); Butterworths, London.
ALTHOUGH SHORT, THIS IS A USEFUL REFERENCE CHAPTER DEALING WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF GOOD LIGHTING, AND PRACTICAL DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS.
Boyce, P.R. (1981) Human Factors in Lighting. Elsevier Science Publications (was Applied Science Publishers)
AN EXCELLENT BOOK, COVERING SOME OF THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THESE COURSES IN MUCH GREATER DETAIL (NEW EDITION?)
CIBS Code for Interior Lighting (1984). Chartered Institution of Building Services, London.
COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DESIGN AND ASSESSMENT OF INTERIOR LIGHTING.

CIBS publications: these cover a wide variety of issues, e.g. Glare, Lighting for VDUs, Lighting guides for various applications such as Engineering, Libraries, Hospitals. Information can be obtained from: Chartered Institution of Building Services, 222 Balham High Rd. London SW12 9BS.

CIE (Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage) publications: These cover a wide range of issues, such as colour rendering, light measurement, and visual performance. Information on their availability can be obtained from lighting organisations of most countries (e.g. CIBS, IES)

Cronly-Dillon, J., Rosen E.S., and Marshall J. (1985) . Hazards of Light: Myths & Realities, Eye and Skin. Pergamon Press, Oxford
TOO DETAILED FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN REFERENCE
Egan, M. D. (1983) Concepts in Architectural Lighting McGraw Hill Inc.
A COMPREHENSIVE BOOK COVERING VISION AS WELL AS LIGHTING IN AN EASILY-UNDERSTOOD VOLUME. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Hopkinson, R.G. and Collins, J.B. (1970) The Ergonomics of Lighting. Macdonald Technical and Scientific, London
AN OLDER BOOK, NOW SOMEWHAT OUT OF DATE, BUT CONTAINING A NUMBER OF USEFUL INSIGHTS ABOUT LIGHTING

Interior Lighting design handbook The Lighting Industry Federation, London : The Federation is a useful source of current information, and may be contacted at 207 Balham High Road, London SW17 7BQ

Schwartz S.H. (1994) Visual Perception: a Clinical Orientation. Appleton and Lange, Norwalk, Connecticut, USA.
ALTHOUGH IT IS DESCRIBED AS 'CLINICAL' THERE IS SOME GOOD BASIC BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT VISION HERE.
Spillman L. and Werner J. (eds) Visual Perception: The Neurophysiological Foundation Academic Press 1990
NOT QUITE AS EASY TO READ AS SEKULAR AND BLAKE, BUT GOES INTO MORE DEPTH IN SOME AREAS.
Pritchard, D.C. (1985) Lighting 3rd. Edition. Longman Group Environmental Physics Series, Longman, London &amp; New York.
THIS INEXPENSIVE PAPERBACK IS FAIRLY UP TO DATE, AND IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR THE TECHNICAL SIDE OF LIGHTING.
Weale, R.A. (1992) The Senescence of Human Vision O.U.P
AN EXCELLENT BOOK COVERING THE CHANGES IN THE EYE AS IT AGES. EASILY READ - THE AUTHOR WRITES EXTREMELY WELL - AND HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR ANYONE WANTING TO EXPLORE THE TOPIC

Ministry of Defence (1997) Defence Standard 00-25   Human Factors for Designers of Equipment; Part 6; Issue 2 : Vision and Lighting

Ministry of Defence (1996) Defence Standard 00-25   Human Factors for Designers of Equipment; Part 7; Issue 2 : Visual Displays

BOTH OF THESE ARE WORTH CHECKING OUT.  Also, note the web site:         http://www.dstan.mod.uk
 

Wilson JR and Corlett EN (1995) Evaluation of Human Work: a Practical Ergonomics Methodology,
2nd Edition, Taylor and Francis. (Chapters 15 and 27)
 


 

As well as the above references, information can be obtained from standards bodies (e.g. British Standards, American ANSI standards, German DIN standards, International I.S.O Standards.

You may also be interested in the following: Library classification:

Vision : medicine 612.84

Vision : psychology 152.14

Vision : public health 614.836

Lighting: design 729.28

Peter Howarth
August 1998