A geometric framework for nonlinear visual coding.

It is argued that important aspects of early and middle level visual coding may be understood as resulting from basic geometric processing of the visual input. The input is treated as a hypersurface defined by image intensity as a function of two spatial coordinates and time. Analytical results show how the Riemann curvature tensor R of this hypersurface represents speed and direction of motion. Moreover, the results can predict the selectivity of MT neurons for multiple motions and for motion in a direction along the optimal spatial orientation. Finally, a model based on integrated R components predicts global-motion percepts related to the barber-pole illusion.