Quantum-Inspired Neural Network Model of Optical Illusions

Abstract

Ambiguous optical illusions have been a paradigmatic object of fascination, research and inspiration in arts, psychology and video games. However, accurate computational models of perception of ambiguous figures have been elusive. In this paper, we design and train a deep neural network model to simulate human perception of the Necker cube, an ambiguous drawing with several alternating possible interpretations. Defining the weights of the neural network connection using a quantum generator of truly random numbers, in agreement with the emerging concepts of quantum artificial intelligence and quantum cognition, we reveal that the actual perceptual state of the Necker cube is a qubit-like superposition of the two fundamental perceptual states predicted by classical theories. Our results finds applications in video games and virtual reality systems employed for training of astronauts and operators of unmanned aerial vehicles. They are also useful for researchers working in the fields of machine learning and vision, psychology of perception and quantum–mechanical models of human mind and decision making.

Quantum-Mechanical Modelling of Asymmetric Opinion Polarisation in Social Networks

“…Importantly, as with the model presented in this paper, the quantum oscillator financial model outperforms the classical oscillator financial models due to the quantum effects resulting in the formation of discrete energy levels. The same conclusion has been drawn in relevant quantum mind studies, where quantum oscillator models demonstrated significant advantages over the classical models [36,74].…”

“…In the model, circumstance is represented by interactions between atoms and its influence results in a change in the energy level structure. Finally, the model relies on a rigorous solution of the fundamental Schrödinger equation [35], whose relevance to the domains of psychology and decision-making has been demonstrated [36,74].…”

Magnetism-Inspired Quantum-Mechanical Model of Gender Fluidity

“…Another potential link between the physical model proposed in this paper and gender fluidity can be established based on a recent experiment that demonstrated that a perceptual illusion of having an opposite-sex body can be associated with gender fluidity [14]. Intriguingly, optical illusions have also been associated with quantum-mechanical effects [28,31,36,40,74] and they can be both modelled using the concept of qubit (Fig. 1) and the process of magnetisation reversal introduced above (for details we refer the interested reader to [74] and references therein).…”

Reservoir Computing Using Measurement-Controlled Quantum Dynamics

“…For example, artificial deep neural networks built using some principles of quantum physics have been employed to model the human perception of optical illusions (see Refs. [84][85][86] and references therein). In particular, in Ref.…”

“…In particular, in Ref. [86], the deep neural network describes the human perception using a synthetic quasi-random time-dependent signal. Subsequently, since the RC algorithm is especially suitable for forecasting complex time series [20], the quantum reservoir can be used to project the output of the deep neural network into the future instances of time, thus dramatically reducing the computational resources needed to train and exploit the more computationally demanding deep neural network.…”