Spatial constraints of binocularly matched information on perceived depth resulted from temporal interocular asynchrony

Abstract

Quantitative depth of a subjective occluding surface could only be perceived when binocularly matched information is presented along with temporal interocular unmatched (IOUM) information [1]. However, it is still unclear whether the horizontal separation that binocularly matched information is presented from the occluding surface edge would affect the quantitative depth perception. In the present study we aim to answer this question by manipulating the distance between binocularly matched and IOUM information in spatial domains. In Experiment 1, we examined the spatial limitation of binocular matched information along horizontal axes by measuring the threshold for quantitatively perceiving depth from temporal interocular asynchrony. In Experiment 2, within the threshold, temporal IOUM information was presented at three distances from the matched information along horizontal axes, respectively. Our results from these experiments showed a robust effect of binocular information in generating quantitative perceived depth from IOUM information in spatial domains. Moreover, the perceived depth of the subjective surface can be significantly influenced by spatial separations along horizontal axes. This may help to propose a computational theory of the mechanisms underlying “da Vinci stereopsis” in motion and other stereoscopic percepts.