The invention relates to an image fusion method based on Contourlet transform and modified pulse coupling neural network (PCNN), on the basis of multidimensional and multidirectional Contourlet resolution of input visible and infrared images, modifying the PCNN with neural physiological background, using the modified PCNN to make fusion policy design, fusing high frequency detail part and low frequency background part according to different characteristics of the visible and infrared images, and generating Contourlet-domain fusion coefficients, and finally obtaining the fused image by inverse Contourlet transform. And the method can improve fused image quality, achieving more ideal fusion effect and has a wide application prospect in optical imaging system, target detecting system, security monitoring system, and other systems.