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Brain activation during dichoptic presentation of optic flow stimuli.

The processing of optic flow fields in motion-sensitive areas in human visual cortex was studied with BOLD (blood oxygen level dependent) contrast in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Subjects binocularly viewed optic flow fields in plane (monoptic) or in stereo depth (dichoptic) with various degrees of disparity and increasing radial speed. By varying the directional properties of the stimuli (expansion, spiral motion, random), we explored whether the BOLD effect reflected neuronal responses to these different forms of optic flow. The results suggest that BOLD contrast as assessed by fMRI methods reflects the neural processing of optic flow information in motion-sensitive cortical areas. Furthermore, small but replicable disparity-selective responses were found in parts of Brodmann's area 19.

Brain↗

Vertical-size disparities are temporally integrated for slant perception.

We investigated temporal properties of vertical-size and horizontal-size disparity processing for slant perception. Subjects indicated perceived slants for a stereoscopic stimulus in which the two magnitudes of vertical-size or horizontal-size disparities were oscillated stepwise with various frequencies (from 0.2 to 10 Hz). For the stimulus with vertical-size disparity oscillation, two slants corresponding to the two magnitudes of disparity were perceived for low-frequency conditions, whereas only a static mean slant of the two slants was perceived for high frequencies (5 and 10 Hz). For the stimulus with horizontal-size disparity oscillation, two slants were perceived for all the temporal frequency conditions. These results indicate that temporal properties of vertical- and horizontal-size disparity processing are clearly different and vertical-size disparities are temporally integrated over a period of around 500 ms for slant perception.

Depth Perception↗

Seeing stereoscopic depth from disparity between kinetic edges.

Traditionally, it is assumed that stereovision operates only on the positional difference (disparity) between luminance-defined features in the images in the left and the right eye. Here, I show that stereoscopic depth can be seen from disparity between edges created by relative motion of texture elements, and between edges created by correlated flicker of stationary texture elements. Luminance-based stereopsis was impossible since the texture was binocularly uncorrelated. Positional disparity of the centre of revolving patterns was not an efficient depth cue. Stereopsis from the stimuli presented here was possible even without binocular overlap of textured areas. The results provide evidence that positional disparity of kinetic edges, defined by correlated flicker or motion contrast alone, can be used as matching features to recover stereoscopic depth.

Cues↗

Interocular velocity difference contributes to stereomotion speed perception.

Two experiments are presented assessing the contributions of the rate of change of disparity (CD) and interocular velocity difference (IOVD) cues to stereomotion speed perception. Using a two-interval forced-choice paradigm, the perceived speed of directly approaching and receding stereomotion and of monocular lateral motion in random dot stereogram (RDS) targets was measured. Prior adaptation using dysjunctively moving random dot stimuli induced a velocity aftereffect (VAE). The degree of interocular correlation in the adapting images was manipulated to assess the effectiveness of each cue. While correlated adaptation involved a conventional RDS stimulus, containing both IOVD and CD cues, uncorrelated adaptation featured an independent dot array in each monocular half-image, and hence lacked a coherent disparity signal. Adaptation produced a larger VAE for stereomotion than for monocular lateral motion, implying effects at neural sites beyond that of binocular combination. For motion passing through the horopter, correlated and uncorrelated adaptation stimuli produced equivalent stereomotion VAEs. The possibility that these results were due to the adaptation of a CD mechanism through random matches in the uncorrelated stimulus was discounted in a control experiment. Here both simultaneous and sequential adaptation of left and right eyes produced similar stereomotion VAEs. Motion at uncrossed disparities was also affected by both correlated and uncorrelated adaptation stimuli, but showed a significantly greater VAE in response to the former. These results show that (1) there are two separate, specialised mechanisms for encoding stereomotion: one through IOVD, the other through CD; (2) the IOVD cue dominates the perception of stereomotion speed for stimuli passing through the horopter; and (3) at a disparity pedestal both the IOVD and the CD cues have a significant influence.

Adaptation, Ocular↗

Temporal dependencies in resolving monocular and binocular cue conflict in slant perception.

Observers viewed large dichoptic patterns undergoing smooth temporal modulations or step changes in simulated slant or inclination under various conditions of disparity-perspective cue conflict and concordance. After presentation of each test surface, subjects adjusted a comparison surface to match the perceived slant or inclination of the test surface. Addition of conflicting perspective to disparity affected slant and inclination perception more for brief than for long presentations. Perspective had more influence for smooth temporal changes than for step changes in slant or inclination and for surfaces presented in isolation rather than with a zero disparity frame. These results indicate that conflicting perspective information plays a dominant role in determining the temporal properties of perceived slant and inclination.

Cues↗

A physiological theory of depth perception from vertical disparity.

It has been known since the time of Helmholtz that vertical differences between the two retinal images can generate depth perception. Although many ecologically and geometrically inspired theories have been proposed, the neural mechanisms underlying the phenomenon remain elusive. Here we propose a new theory for depth perception from vertical disparity based on the oriented binocular receptive fields of visual cortical cells and on the radial bias of the preferred-orientation distribution in the cortex. The theory suggests that oriented cells may treat a vertical disparity as a weaker, equivalent horizontal disparity. It explains the induced effect, and the quadrant and size dependence of vertical disparity. It predicts that horizontal and vertical disparities should locally enhance or cancel each other according to their depth signs, and that the effect of vertical disparity should be orientation dependent. These predictions were confirmed through psychophysical experiments.

Depth Perception↗

Binocular interaction and sensitivity to horizontal disparity in visual cortex in the awake monkey.

We evaluated the binocular interaction and horizontal disparity sensitivity in neurons recorded from macaque visual cortex. Neurons from V1 of three awake Macaca mulatta monkeys were isolated by means of extracellular recording and tested for disparity sensitivity with dynamic random dot stereograms. Neurons sensitive to horizontal disparities were stimulated both monocularly and binocularly with flashing bars and their responses quantified. ANOVA and regression tests were used for data analysis. Sixty-six cells out of 185 (66/185, 36%) showed sensitivity to horizontal disparity. Disparity sensitive cells were grouped into near (25/66, 38%), tuned inhibitory (16/66, 24%), far (13/66, 20%) and tuned excitatory (12/66, 18%). Receptive fields of tuned cells were located more centrally in the visual field than those of near and far cells. The binocular interaction in tuned inhibitory cells increased linearly along with ocular unbalance. Most of tuned excitatory cells (10/12, 83%) showed facilitatory binocular interaction, characterized by a stronger response to binocular stimulation than to the stimulation of the dominant eye. On the contrary, most of tuned inhibitory cells (14/16, 88%) showed suppressory binocular interaction, characterized by a weaker response to binocular stimulation than to the stimulation of the dominant eye. Near and far cells showed both types of interaction in similar percentages. The binocular response showed a linear relationship with the sum of both monocular responses in tuned excitatory, tuned inhibitory and near cells, but not in far cells. Sensitivity to horizontal disparity may be a result of facilitatory and suppressive interactions between left and right inputs.

Animals↗

Vertical-disparity gradients are processed independently in different depth planes.

We examined the effects of vertical-disparity gradients on apparent depth curvature of textured surfaces. In Experiment 1, vertical disparities induced expected curvatures when the surface had a horizontal disparity of < +/-40.34'. A central row of elements, lacking vertical disparities, ceased to have the same apparent curvature as the surface when the horizontal disparity between row and surface exceeded +/-5'. In Experiment 2, vertical disparities were not pooled between superimposed surfaces separated by horizontal disparities > +/-10'. Thus, vertical-disparity gradients are not pooled over depth for curvature perception. Our results suggest that vertical disparities are used to determine distances to surfaces directly, rather than to estimate vergence.

Adult↗

Unconstrained stereoscopic matching of lines.

The computation of horizontal binocular disparities used in stereoscopic depth perception depends upon the identification of corresponding features in the two retinal images. In principle, binocular matching is a two-dimensional problem that considers matches in all possible meridians. Normally, constraints such as end points or crossing points limit the direction and magnitude of matches. If matching is unconstrained, such as is the case with long lines, it is completely ambiguous. Under these conditions the default match will be determined by the operating range, or upper disparity limit, of matchable vertical and horizontal disparities. We computed the operating range of vertical matches for stereoscopic depth as a function of line orientation. Our results suggest that the two-dimensional operating range is anisotropic for vertical and horizontal disparity and that unconstrained matches are not based upon either epipolar geometry or nearest neighbor constraints, but rather the mean of disparity estimates within the operating range for binocular matches. This operating range can be extended vertically when matches are constrained by image primitives.

Depth Perception↗

Panum's limiting case: double fusion, convergence error, or 'da Vinci stereopsis'.

Panum's limiting case--a perceived depth difference between two lines in one eye combined with only one in the other eye--has long been considered weak or reversible. In the last few years this has led to strong promotion of the view that Panum's case is not based on a stereoscopic process involving double fusion, that only one line is fused, with the depth of the other one attributable either to fixation disparity or to occlusion cues. This view is refuted in two ways. First it is shown that when the separation of the two lines, considered as a disparity, is within the range of 'patent stereopsis', depth is perceived with a precision and accuracy indistinguishable from regular stereopsis. The predictions of nonstereoscopic theories concerning the effects of fixation are not borne out at small disparities. Second, very compelling Panum versions of orientation and curvature disparity are introduced, which are difficult to account for except by a process of double fusion. Finally it is shown that at large disparities the depth in Panum's case deviates from prediction more frequently than does regular stereoscopic depth.

Convergence, Ocular↗

Phase disparity in area 19 of the cat.

Binocular cells in area 19 are tuned to positional disparities. In effect, up to one-third of the cells respond preferentially to small incongruities between the optimal bar stimuli presented within the receptive fields of each eye. The aim of the present study was to determine whether cells in area 19 are also sensitive to phase disparities. Both types of disparities have been proposed as mechanisms through which stereoperception is achieved. Results indicate that phase disparities produced coherent interactions in 38% of the binocular cells, resulting in facilitation or summation. The remaining cells were phase insensitive. The overall results suggest that cells in area 19 code phase disparities in a proportion comparable to stimulus disparities, confirming that this area is implicated in binocular integration, albeit in a relatively smaller proportion than some of the other visual areas.

Animals↗

Range and mechanism of encoding of horizontal disparity in macaque V1.

The responses of single cortical neurons were measured as a function of the binocular disparity of dynamic random dot stereograms for a large sample of neurons (n = 787) from V1 of the awake macaque. From this sample, we selected 180 neurons whose tuning curves were strongly tuned for disparity, well sampled and well described by one-dimensional Gabor functions. The fitted parameters of the Gabor functions were used to resolve three outstanding issues in binocular stereopsis. First, we considered whether tuning curves can be meaningfully divided into discrete tuning types. Careful examination of the distributions of the Gabor parameters that determine tuning shape revealed no evidence for clustering. We conclude that a continuum of tuning types is present. Second, we investigated the mechanism of disparity encoding for V1 neurons. The shape of the disparity tuning function can be used to distinguish between position-encoding (in which disparity is encoded by an interocular shift in receptive field position) and phase-encoding (in which disparity is encoded by a difference in the receptive field profile in the 2 eyes). Both position and phase encoding were found to be common. This was confirmed by an independent assessment of disparity encoding based on the measurement of disparity sensitivity for sinusoidal luminance gratings of different spatial frequencies. The contributions of phase and position to disparity encoding were compared by estimating a population average of the rate of change in firing rate per degree of disparity. When this was calculated separately for the phase and position contributions, they were found to be closely similar. Third, we investigated the range of disparity tuning in V1 as a function of eccentricity in the parafoveal range. We find few cells which are selective for disparities greater than +/-1 degrees even at the largest eccentricity of approximately 5 degrees. The preferred disparity was correlated with the spatial scale of the tuning curve, and for most units lay within a +/-pi radians phase limit. Such a size-disparity correlation is potentially useful for the solution of the correspondence problem.

Animals↗

Perceived slant from Werner's illusion affects binocular saccadic eye movements.

We examined whether binocular saccadic eye movements are determined solely by disparity-defined slant or whether they are influenced by both disparity-defined and perceived slant. The Werner illusion was used to distinguish a plane's disparity-defined slant from its perceived slant. Three subjects viewed a horizontally elongated test strip that was flanked vertically by two planes. The perceived slant of the test strip depended on the slant of the flanking planes. Subjects estimated the perceived slant of the test strip by adjusting the angle between two lines in a symbolic top view. The saccadic eye movements between targets on the test strip were recorded both with visual feedback ("later saccades") and without visual feedback ("first saccades"). We calculated vergence differences for saccades between targets on the test strip (and for fixation on these targets). For each geometrical test strip slant we examined whether the vergence differences could be explained as an effect of perceived slant. This study shows that saccadic eye movements are determined predominantly by the disparity-defined slant, but they can be affected by perceived slant, particularly when multiple saccades are being made.

Adult↗

[Comparison between dissociated and associated heterophoria].

BACKGROUND: Since Ogle (1949) dissociated heterophoria is distinguished from associated heterophoria. Dissociated heterophoria is defined as a deviation from the orthovergence position that occurs when no fusional contours are provided. Associated heterophoria is a deviation that occurs under prism correction of fixation disparity, i.e. under a viewing condition in which fusional contours are absent only in the centre of the visual field. Both dissociated and associated heterophoria have been used as indications for prismatic correction. It has been controversially discussed to what extent dissociated and associated heterophoria are comparable. METHODS: A total of 43 subjects were investigated using the white Maddox rod test for horizontal dissociated heterophoria and the cross test of Hans-Joachim Haase (a test similar to the fixation disparity test described by Ogle 1949) for horizontal associated heterophoria. In both tests subjects were asked to continually correct any deviation using Herschel prisms. Readings were taken after 1 min. RESULTS: The correlation between the results obtained with the white Maddox rod test and the cross test was r = 0.89 (p < 0.0001) and the slope of the regression line was 0.92 (95% confidence interval from 0.77 to 1.07). One subject was unable to reach a match in the cross test because she had an "obligate" fixation disparity due to a staphyloma posticum. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed a high correlation between dissociated and associated heterophoria. This result appears plausible since the feedback loop for fusion is disconnected in both cases, although in a different manner: When dissociated heterophoria is measured, fusionable contours are absent. When associated heterophoria is measured, any disparity of peripheral contours that could serve as an error signal is nullified by instantaneous prism correction. The high concordance of dissociated and associated heterophoria suggests that both measures are of equal value as an indication for prismatic spectacle correction. In rare cases of an "obligate" fixation disparity, however, associated heterophoria cannot be determined so that dissociated heterophoria remains as the only indication.

Adult↗

Dark vergence in relation to fixation disparity at different luminance and blur levels.

Fixation disparity was measured psychophysically when subjects viewed a central fusion stimulus at 50 cm distance. Reducing luminance and increasing target blur resulted in an exophoric shift of fixation disparity. Fixation disparity was significantly more exophoric in subjects with distant dark vergence, i.e. the resting position of vergence. This was true for the bright and sharp target, as well as for targets impaired by blurring or dimming. These results are interpreted as a bias of fixation disparity towards the individual resting position of vergence not only for degraded stimuli but also for strong central fusion stimuli.

Accommodation, Ocular↗

Is vertical disparity used to determine azimuth?

The azimuth of a stimulus relative to the head can be determined from an extra-retinal, eye-position signal plus an estimate of the retinal eccentricity of the image. Alternatively, azimuth could be determined from retinal-image information alone. Specifically, stimulus azimuth could be estimated from two derivatives of vertical disparity: vertical size ratio (which varies with azimuth), and the horizontal gradient of vertical size ratio (a measure of distance). Here we examine the determinants of perceived azimuth in viewing conditions that, theoretically, should favor the use of vertical disparity. We find no evidence that vertical disparity is used. Perceived azimuth was determined completely by felt eye position and the retinal eccentricity of the image.

Depth Perception↗

Contour completion through depth interferes with stereoacuity.

Local disparity signals must interact in visual cortex to represent boundaries and surfaces of three-dimensional (3D) objects. We investigated how disparity signals interact in 3D contours and in 3D surfaces generated from the contours. We compared flat (single disparity) stimuli with curved (multi-disparity) stimuli. We found no consistent differences in sensitivity to contours vs. surfaces; for equivalent amounts of disparity, however, observers were more sensitive to flat stimuli than curved stimuli. Poor depth sensitivity for curved stimuli cannot be explained by the larger range of disparities present in the curved surface, nor by disparity averaging, nor by poor sensitivity to the largest disparity in the stimulus. Surprisingly, sensitivity to surfaces curved in depth was improved by removing portions of the surface and thus removing disparity information. Stimulus configuration had a profound effect on stereo thresholds that cannot be accounted for by disparity-energy models of V1 processing. We suggest that higher-level 3D contour or 3D shape mechanisms are involved.

Form Perception↗

The visual control of reaching and grasping: binocular disparity and motion parallax.

The primary visual sources of depth and size information are binocular cues and motion parallax. Here, the authors determine the efficacy of these cues to control prehension by presenting them in isolation from other visual cues. When only binocular cues were available, reaches showed normal scaling of the transport and grasp components with object distance and size. However, when only motion parallax was available, only the transport component scaled reliably. No additional increase in scaling was found when both cues were available simultaneously. Therefore, although equivalent information is available from binocular and motion parallax information, the latter may be of relatively limited use for the control of the grasp. Binocular disparity appears selectively important for the control of the grasp.

Adaptation, Physiological↗