Vertical-disparity gradients are processed independently in different depth planes

• Published in: Vision research (Oxford) Vol. 45; no. 15; pp. 2025 - 2035
• Main Authors: Duke, Philip A., Howard, Ian P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-07-2005; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cues; Curvature perception; Distance Perception - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Middle Aged; Pattern Recognition, Visual - physiology; Perception; Photic Stimulation - methods; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychophysics; Stereopsis; Vertical disparity; Vision; Vision Disparity - physiology; Vision, Binocular - physiology; Stereopsis; Curvature perception; Vertical disparity; Human; Gradient; Vergence; Perception; Disparity; Experimental study; Curvature; Depth; Surface
• ISSN: 0042-6989; 1878-5646
• DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2005.01.027

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.