On functional concepts for the explanation of visual pattern recognition.

An overview is given covering approximately 30 years of research in the field of functional concepts for the explanation of visual pattern recognition processes. Due to its important role, the Perceptron approach is briefly sketched. This concept, representing to a great extent the present opinion about pattern recognition in the field of visual sciences, is investigated with respect to its invariance properties and its structure. Fundamental facts about the nature of human perception (Gestalt-aspect) and about the processing structure of the visual system are used as qualification criteria. Alternatively, a recent concept that explains the high degree of invariance in visual perception by the evaluation of inner pattern relations is introduced and investigated with respect to its biological plausibility. It is also compared with the Perceptron concept.