Filling-in: From Perceptual Completion To Cortical Reorganization

the Best Example Of Filling-in Involves The Blind Spot, A Region Of The Retina Devoid Of Photoreceptors. Remarkably, The Region Of Visual Space Corresponding To The Blind Spot Is Not Perceived As A Dark Region In Space, But Instead As Having The Same Color And Texture As The Surrounding Background; Hence The Expression Filling In. While This Type Of Perceptual Completion Phenomenon Is Common In The Visual Domain, It Is Argued By The Leading Scientists Who Contribute To This Book That Forms Of Filling-in Also Take Place In Other Sensory Modalities, Including The Auditory, Somatosensory, And Motor Systems. In A Concluding Chapter An Integrative Approach Is Taken, Which Attempts To Provide A Common Framework For Completion Phenomena Occurring On A Fast Time Scale, And Cortical Reorganization In Sensory And Motor Cortex Induced By Peripheral Damage Or Skill Learning Taking Place On A Slower Time Scale. It Is Proposed That Systematic Changes In The Interplay Between Inhibitory And Excitatory Inputs Permit Cortical Neurons To Become Driven By New Sources Of Input, Which, In Addition To Initial Perceptual Consequences Can Lead To A Long-term Structural Reorganization Of Cortex.
this Book Represents A Truly Interdisciplinary Approach To Neuroscience, With Chapters Covering Computational Modeling, Visual Psychophysics, Functional Brain Imaging, Single-cell Physiology, And Clinical Patient Cases. It Will Be Of Interest To Researchers And Graduate Students In Systems Neuroscience, Cognitive Neuroscience, Vision Science, Neuroimaging, Perceptual Psychology, Computational Neuroscience, And Philosophy Of Mind.

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reviewer:daniel B. Hier, Md(university Of Illinois At Chicago College Of Medicine)
description:this Is A Multiauthored Compendium Of 15 Definitive Review Articles Related To The Topic Of Filling In Of Perceptual Blind Spots.
purpose:the Two Editors Have Undertaken To Assemble A Multidisciplinary Group Of Contributors To Write Reviews Related To The Psychological Phenomenon Of Filling In.
audience:this Book Will Be Of Interest To Neuropsychologists, Neurologists, And Other Neuroscientists Interested In Perception, Remapping, And Cortical Reorganization.
features:this Is A Nicely Written Book That Has Been Carefully Edited By The Editors. They Have Chosen Contributors Who Have Closely Adhered To Their Unifying Theme Of Psychological Filling In Of Blind Spots And Perceptual Holes. They Start With 11 Chapters On Visual Perception And End With Three Chapters On Cortical Remapping And A Fine Summary Chapter.
assessment:this Book Is A Pleasure To Read. It Is Always A Delight To Come Across A Book That Is Unique, Well Written, And Well Edited. The Editors Are To Be Congratulated On Their Fine And Valuable Contribution To The Field Of Perceptual Remapping And Cortical Reorganization.