arXiv:2601.14077q-bio.NCcs.CV2026-01

自动化生成模糊双色图像,提升视觉感知研究一致性。

MooneyMaker: A Python package to create ambiguous two-tone images

  • 基于图像统计与深度学习,智能调节边缘信息增强初始模糊性。
  • 初始辨识度越低的图像,看到原图后识别率提升越明显。
  • 适合视觉认知研究者构建标准化刺激数据库。

Mooney图像是一种高对比度的双色视觉刺激,通过阈值化照片生成,可分离图像内容与理解,对视觉感知研究具有价值。理想状态是初始难以辨认,但看到原始模板后完全可识别。传统手工制作依赖主观标准,耗时且易引入不一致。本文提出开源Python工具MooneyMaker,支持多种自动化生成方法,涵盖图像统计与深度学习模型,通过策略性修改边缘信息提升初始模糊性。用户可多方法生成并直接对比效果。实验验证显示,初始辨识度越低的图像,其模板揭示后的识别提升越显著(即解歧效应更大)。我们提供技术选型指南,帮助研究者构建高效、标准化的Mooney刺激库,推动视觉感知研究的可重复性与一致性。

原文摘要 · Abstract (English)

Mooney images are high-contrast, two-tone visual stimuli, created by thresholding photographic images. They allow researchers to separate image content from image understanding, making them valuable for studying visual perception. An ideal Mooney image for this purpose achieves a specific balance: it initially appears unrecognizable but becomes fully interpretable to the observer after seeing the original template. Researchers traditionally created these stimuli manually using subjective criteria, which is labor-intensive and can introduce inconsistencies across studies. Automated generation techniques now offer an alternative to this manual approach. Here, we present MooneyMaker, an open-source Python package that automates the generation of ambiguous Mooney images using several complementary approaches. Users can choose between various generation techniques that range from approaches based on image statistics to deep learning models. These models strategically alter edge information to increase initial ambiguity. The package lets users create two-tone images with multiple methods and directly compare the results visually. In an experiment, we validate MooneyMaker by generating Mooney images using different techniques and assess their recognizability for human observers before and after disambiguating them by presenting the template images. Our results reveal that techniques with lower initial recognizability are associated with higher post-template recognition (i.e. a larger disambiguation effect). To help vision scientists build effective databases of Mooney stimuli, we provide practical guidelines for technique selection. By standardizing the generation process, MooneyMaker supports more consistent and reproducible visual perception research.

视觉感知图像生成心理学工具

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