Biomaterial Database

The interaction of binocular disparity and motion parallax in the computation of depth. 1996

M F Bradshaw, and B J Rogers

Department of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, U.K. m.bradshaw@surrey.ac.uk

Depth from binocular disparity and motion parallax has traditionally been assumed to be the product of separate and independent processes. We report two experiments which used classical psychophysical paradigms to test this assumption. The first tested whether there was an elevation in the thresholds for detecting the 3D structure of corrugated surfaces defined by either binocular disparity or motion parallax following prolonged viewing (adaptation) of supra-threshold surfaces defined by either the same or different cue (threshold elevation). The second experiment tested whether the depth detection thresholds for a compound stimulus, containing both binocular disparity and motion parallax, were lower than the thresholds determined for each of the components separately (sub-threshold summation). Experiment 1 showed a substantial amount of within- and between-cue threshold elevation and experiment 2 revealed the presence of sub-threshold summation. Together, these results support the view that the combination of binocular disparity and motion parallax information is not limited to a linear, weighted addition of their individual depth estimates but that the cues can interact non-linearly in the computation of depth.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008433	Mathematics	The deductive study of shape, quantity, and dependence. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Mathematic
D008954	Models, Biological	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of biological processes or diseases. For disease models in living animals, DISEASE MODELS, ANIMAL is available. Biological models include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Biological Model,Biological Models,Model, Biological,Models, Biologic,Biologic Model,Biologic Models,Model, Biologic
D009039	Motion Perception	The real or apparent movement of objects through the visual field.	Movement Perception,Perception, Motion,Perception, Movement
D011601	Psychophysics	The science dealing with the correlation of the physical characteristics of a stimulus, e.g., frequency or intensity, with the response to the stimulus, in order to assess the psychologic factors involved in the relationship.	Psychophysic
D003463	Cues	Signals for an action; that specific portion of a perceptual field or pattern of stimuli to which a subject has learned to respond.	Cue
D003867	Depth Perception	Perception of three-dimensionality.	Stereopsis,Stereoscopic Vision,Depth Perceptions,Perception, Depth,Perceptions, Depth,Stereopses,Stereoscopic Visions,Vision, Stereoscopic,Visions, Stereoscopic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000221	Adaptation, Ocular	The adjustment of the eye to variations in the intensity of light. Light adaptation is the adjustment of the eye when the light threshold is increased; DARK ADAPTATION when the light is greatly reduced. (From Cline et al., Dictionary of Visual Science, 4th ed)	Light Adaptation,Adaptation, Light,Adaptations, Light,Adaptations, Ocular,Light Adaptations,Ocular Adaptation,Ocular Adaptations
D012684	Sensory Thresholds	The minimum amount of stimulus energy necessary to elicit a sensory response.	Sensory Threshold,Threshold, Sensory,Thresholds, Sensory