Failure of rivalry at low contrast: evidence of a suprathreshold binocular summation process

Vision Res. 1992 Aug;32(8):1471-9. doi: 10.1016/0042-6989(92)90203-u.

Abstract

Presentation of different images to the two eyes normally results in a time-varying alternation between the two images (binocular rivalry). However, we find that when orthogonal gratings are viewed dichoptically at low contrast, a stable summation between the two images is perceived in the form of a dichoptic plaid. The range of perception of the dichoptic plaid depends on spatial frequency, contrast and luminance of the gratings. This phenomenon differs from the "false fusion", a fleeting summation of different images perceived only under very brief presentation of the stimuli. The observations suggest that there exists a neural process that performs a summation of dissimilar images, and that is distinct from the competitive process of suppression and binocular rivalry.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Contrast Sensitivity / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Light
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual / physiology*
  • Photometry
  • Sensory Thresholds / physiology
  • Time Factors
  • Vision, Binocular / physiology*
  • Vision, Monocular / physiology