1. An image processing apparatus, comprising: a receiver configured to receive a sequence of image frames comprising an object undergoing a transformation; an encoder configured to encode at least a portion of an image frame within the sequence of image frames into a group of pulses; and a detector coupled by a plurality of transmission channels to the encoder and configured to receive said group of pulses, and to generate a detection signal based at least in part on the group of pulses; wherein: an excitability parameter of the detector is configurable to be increased above a reference value responsive to generation of the detection signal; a gain of at least one of the plurality of transmission channels is configurable to be adjusted from a first value to a second value responsive to an arrival of at least one pulse of the group of pulses at the detector within a time interval relative to the detection signal; and the excitability parameter and the gain of at least one of the plurality of transmission channels cooperate to effect recognition of the object in the image frame of the sequence of image frames invariantly with respect to the transformation.