Homepage of S. Sabina Wolfson

I work very part time with Norma Graham in the Department of Psychology at Columbia University. We study texture perception (or, rather, we use texture as a tool to explore early processing in the visual system). For the last few years we have been exploring a contrast adaptation process that we (accidentally) found while trying to study something else. We originally called this new contrast adaptation process Buffy but we are now (generally) calling it a shifting, rectifying contrast-comparison process.

  Papers

Varying test-pattern duration to explore the dynamics of contrast-comparison and contrast-normalization processes
Norma V. Graham & S. Sabina Wolfson (2023)
Journal of Vision, 23(1):15,1-22 https://doi.org/10.1167/jov.23.1.15
reprint (pdf)

Spatial characteristics of a contrast-comparison process.
S. Sabina Wolfson & Norma Graham (2018)
In Pioneer Visual Neuroscience: A Festschrift for Naomi Weisstein, pp. (104-117)
Brown, J. M. (Ed.)
New York: Routledge https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315170183
scan of chapter (pdf)

Is the straddle effect in contrast perception limited to second-order spatial vision?
Norma V. Graham & S. Sabina Wolfson (2018)
Journal of Vision, 18(5):15, 1-43, https://doi.org/10.1167/18.5.15
reprint (pdf)

Two visual contrast processes: One new, one old
Norma Graham & S. Sabina Wolfson (2013)
In Human Information Processing: Vision, Memory, and Attention, (pp. 13-27)
C. Chubb, B. Dosher, Z. Lu, and R. Schiffrin (Eds.)
Washington, DC, US: American Psychological Association
pre-print figures (pdf) and pre-print text (pdf)

Two contrast adaptation processes: contrast normalization and shifting, rectifying contrast comparison
S. Sabina Wolfson & Norma Graham (2009)
Journal of Vision, 9(4):30, 1-23, https://doi.org/10.1167/9.4.30
reprint (pdf) and supplementary materials (pdf)
        Pages 14 and 15 of this paper refer to Figure 14 of Graham & Sutter (2000). Please also see the errata for Graham &Sutter (2000).

An unusual kind of contrast adaptation: shifting a contrast comparison level
S. Sabina Wolfson & Norma Graham (2007)
Journal of Vision, 7(8):12, 1-7, https://doi.org/10.1167/7.8.12
reprint (pdf 270K)

Exploring contrast-controlled adaptation processes in human vision (with help from Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Norma Graham & S. Sabina Wolfson (2007)
In Computational Vision in Neural and Machine Systems, (pp. 9-47)
Laurence R. Harris & Michael Jenkin (Eds.)
Cambridge University Press
proofs (pdf 1.1M)

Forty-four years of studying light adaptation using the probed-sinewave paradigm
S. Sabina Wolfson & Norma Graham (2006)
Journal of Vision, 6(10), 1026-1046, https://doi.org/10.1167/6.10.3
reprint (pdf 1.7M) and supplementary materials (pdf)

Contrast-response functions for the multifocal visual evoked potentials (mfVEP): A test of a model relating V1 activity to mfVEP activity.
Donald C. Hood, Quraish Ghadiali, Jeanie C. Zhang, Norma V. Graham, S. Sabina Wolfson, & Xian Zhang (2006)
Journal of Vision, 6(5), 580-593, https://doi.org/10.1167/6.5.4
reprint (pdf 850K)

Element-arrangement textures in multiple objective tasks
S. Sabina Wolfson & Norma Graham (2005)
Spatial Vision, 18(2), 209-226
abstract (html) | reprint (pdf 350K)

Is there opponent-orientation coding in the second-order channels of pattern vision?
Norma Graham & S. Sabina Wolfson (2004)
Vision Research, 44(27), 3145-3175
abstract (html) | reprint (pdf 1M)

Processing in the probed-sinewave paradigm is likely retinal
S. Sabina Wolfson & Norma Graham (2001)
Visual Neuroscience, 18(6), 1003-1010
abstract (html) | reprint (pdf 2.5M)

Comparing increment and decrement probes in the probed-sinewave paradigm
S. Sabina Wolfson & Norma Graham (2001)
Vision Research, 41(9), 1119-1131
abstract (html) | reprint (pdf 500K)

A note about preferred orientations at the first and second stages of complex (second-order) texture channels
Norma Graham & S. Sabina Wolfson (2001)
Journal of the Optical Society of America A, 18(9), 2273-2281
abstract (html) | reprint (pdf 500K)

Exploring the dynamics of light adaptation: the effects of varying the flickering background's duration in the probed-sinewave paradigm
S. Sabina Wolfson & Norma Graham (2000)
Vision Research, 40(17), 2277-2289
abstract (html) | reprint (pdf 500K)

Long range interactions between oriented texture elements
S. Sabina Wolfson & Michael S. Landy (1999)
Vision Research39(5), 933-945
abstract (html) | reprint (pdf 1M)

Examining edge- and region-based texture analysis mechanisms
S. Sabina Wolfson & Michael S. Landy (1998)
Vision Research, 38(3), 439-446
abstract (html) | reprint (pdf 750K)

Discrimination of orientation-defined texture edges
S. Sabina Wolfson & Michael S. Landy (1995)
Vision Research, 35(20), 2863-2877
abstract (html) | reprint (pdf 1M)

  Conferences

Temporal characteristics of the Straddle Effect (Buffy Contrast Adaptation) and modeling with On-Off Neurons
Norma Graham, S. Sabina Wolfson, & Carlyn A. Patterson (2013)
Vision Sciences Society
abstract | handout (3M)

The Straddle (Buffy) Effect in temporal contrast processing (adaptation) is spatially very local
Norma Graham & S. Sabina Wolfson (2012)
Vision Sciences Society
abstract | handout (900K)

"Buffy contrast adaptation" with a single Gabor patch
Norma Graham, S. Sabina Wolfson, Ian Kwok, & Boris Grinshpun (2010)
Vision Sciences Society
abstract

Modeling the interaction of two rapid adaptation processes: contrast comparison and contrast normalization
Norma Graham, S. Sabina Wolfson, Stephanie Pan, Gauri Wable, Ian Kwok, & Boris Grinshpun (2009)
Society for Neuroscience
abstract | handout (1.1M)

Contrast-modulated noise shows an adaptable, rectifying, contrast-comparison process ("Buffy adaptation")
S. Sabina Wolfson, Stephanie Pan, Gauri Wable & Norma Graham (2009)
Vision Science Society
Journal of Vision, Vol 9, Num 8, Abstract 971
abstract (html) | handout (pdf 1.6M)

Two Contrast-Adaptation Processes: One Old (Weber), One New (Buffy)
Norma Graham & S. Sabina Wolfson (2009)
34th Annual Interdisciplinary Conference, Teton Village, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
abstract (pdf)

Two contrast-adaptation processes: One old (contrast normalization), One new (contrast comparison)
Norma Graham & S. Sabina Wolfson (2009)
Science Focus Day: When Models and Experiments Meet, New York University, Center for Neural Science

Two contrast-adaptation processes: One old, one new
S. Sabina Wolfson, Norma Graham, & Stephanie Pan (2008)
Vision Science Society
Journal of Vision, Vol 8, Num 6, Abstract 265
abstract (html) | handout (pdf 900K)

Adaptable contrast comparison
Norma Graham & S. Sabina Wolfson (2007)
Sperling Festschrift Conference, University of California, Irvine

More about "Buffy adaptation"
S. Sabina Wolfson & Norma Graham (2007)
Vision Sciences Society
Journal of Vision, Vol 7, Num 9, Abstract 264
abstract (html) | handout (pdf 800K)

Complex channels become more complex: Modeling a contrast adaptation process
Norma Graham & S. Sabina Wolfson (2006)
Vision Sciences Society
Journal of Vision, Vol 6, Num 6, Abstract 694
abstract (html)

Exploring contrast adaptation (with help from Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Norma Graham & S. Sabina Wolfson (2006)
Society of Experimental Psychologists 103rd Annual Meeting, University of California, San Diego

A new (at least to us) kind of contrast adaptation
Norma Graham & S. Sabina Wolfson (2006)
31st Annual Interdisciplinary Conference, Teton Village, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
abstract (html)

Dynamics of contrast-gain controls in pattern vision
S. Sabina Wolfson & Norma Graham (2005)
Vision Sciences Society
Journal of Vision, Vol 5, Num 8, Abstract 760
abstract (html) | handout (pdf 800K)

Normalization and uncertainty effects in three objective tasks using first-order and second-order textures
S. Sabina Wolfson, Norma Graham, & Oleg Slinin (2004)
Vision Sciences Society
Journal of Vision, Vol 4, Num 8, Abstract 534
abstract (html) | handout (pdf 1M)

Exploring the opponent structure of complex (second-order) channels
S. Sabina Wolfson & Norma Graham (2003)
Vision Sciences Society
Journal of Vision, Vol 3, Num 9, Abstract 615
abstract (html)

Monoptic versus dichoptic presentation in the probed-sinewave paradigm
S. Sabina Wolfson, Norma Graham, Michael Krug, & Arusha Farahani (2001)
Invest Ophth & Vis Sci, 42(4), Abstract #841, Page S157
abstract (html)

A comparison of light adaptation results from 40 years of the probed-sinewave paradigm
Norma Graham, S. Sabina Wolfson, & Jenifar Chowdhury (2001)
Invest Ophth & Vis Sci, 42(4), Abstract #840, Page S157
abstract (html) | handout (pdf 500K)

Increment and decrement probes in the probed-sinewave paradigm
S. Sabina Wolfson, Norma Graham, & Jenifar Chowdhury (2000)
Invest Ophth & Vis Sci, 41(4), Abstract #3788, Page S712
abstract (html)

Rapid light adaptation: The effects of varying the background's duration in the probe-sinewave paradigm
S. Sabina Wolfson & Norma Graham (1999)
Invest Ophth & Vis Sci, 40(4), Abstract #247, Page S46
abstract (html)

Long range interactions between texture elements
S. Sabina Wolfson & Michael S. Landy (1998)
Invest Ophth & Vis Sci, 39(4), Abstract #3018, Page S650
abstract (html)

Revealing edge and region-based texture mechanisms
S. Sabina Wolfson & Michael S. Landy (1995)
Invest Ophth & Vis Sci, 36(4), Abstract #2200, Page S476
abstract (html)

Modeling the discrimination of orientation-defined texture edges
S. Sabina Wolfson & Michael S. Landy (1994)
Invest Ophth & Vis Sci, 35(4), Abstract #1907, Page S1667
abstract (html)

Discrimination of orientation-defined texture edges
Michael S. Landy & S. Sabina Wolfson (1993)
Invest Ophth & Vis Sci, 34(4), Abstract #584, Page S819
abstract (html)

  Teaching

Fall of 1998, Perception & Sensory Processes, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Columbia University

Fall 1997, Sensation and Perception, Teaching Assistant, New York University

Spring 1997, Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, Teaching Assistant, New York University

Fall 1996, Sensation and Perception, Teaching Assistant, New York University

Spring 1996, Human Information Processing, Teaching Assistant, New York University

Fall 1995, Sensation and Perception, Teaching Assistant, New York University

  History

2012-present, Adjunct Associate Research Scientist, Columbia University, Psychology

2002-2011, Associate Research Scientist, Columbia University, Psychology

2002-2006, non-degree graduate classes, Columbia University, Urban Planning     details about these classes

1999-2001, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Columbia University, Psychology

1998-1999, Post-Doctoral Research Scientist, Columbia University, Psychology

1992-1998, Ph.D., New York University, Cognition & Perception

1992-1995, M.S., New York University, Computer Science

1988-1991, B.A., New York University, Psychology

  Contact

sabinawolfson(at)gmail.com

www.sabinawolfson.com

last updated: 2023