A new approach to image segmentation based on simplified region growing PCNN

The region growing pulse coupled neural network (PCNN) algorithm is an efficient method for multi-value image segmentation. However, as a kind of PCNN models, choosing appropriate parameters are usually difficult. This paper brings forward a new approach which improves the region growing PCNN model by modifying the linking channel function and decreases the complexity of adjusting parameters. The region growing PCNN is not effective when processing the edge pixels between different regions because the edge pixels and central pixels are dealt with unfairly. In order to overcome this disadvantage, the proposed method processes the edge pixels by setting the edge pixels and central pixels to receive same linking input if they are in similar condition. Computer simulations prove it can process the edge pixels efficiently and obtain clear boundaries between different regions. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.