1. A sensory processing system, comprising: an encoder apparatus comprising: a plurality of sensing elements, each of said plurality of sensing elements being configured to receive one or more sensory stimulus; and a plurality of output nodes, each configured to generate an output based on said one or more sensory stimulus; and a detector apparatus coupled to said encoder apparatus; wherein: a coupling of each output node of said plurality of output nodes to one and only one sensing element of said plurality of sensing elements via a single connection is configured to cause a generation of said output by said each output node; said each output node is characterized by a spatial sensitivity to said one or more sensory stimulus, said spatial sensitivity being configured based on a summation of a plurality of responses from a subset of elements of said plurality of sensing elements; said plurality of responses is characterized by: a first Gaussian spatial distribution having a first width parameter and positive weights associated therewith; and a second Gaussian spatial distribution having a second width parameter and negative weights associated therewith; and said first Gaussian distribution and said second Gaussian distributions cooperate to effectuate a difference of Gaussians (DoG) spatial response sensitivity to said one or more sensory stimulus by said output node, said response sensitivity being characterized by an effective width.