Volume 8, Number 5, Article 5, Pages 1-10 doi:10.1167/8.5.5 http://journalofvision.org/8/5/5/ ISSN 1534-7362
Stereoscopic transparency: Constraints on the perception of multiple surfaces
Inna Tsirlin
Center for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Robert S. Allison
Center for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Laurie M. Wilcox
Center for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Abstract

Stereo-transparency is an intriguing, but not well-understood, phenomenon. In the present experiment, we simultaneously manipulated the number of overlaid planes, density of elements, and depth separation between the planes in random dot stereograms to evaluate the constraints on stereoscopic transparency. We used a novel task involving identification of patterned planes among the planes constituting the stimulus. Our data show that observers are capable of segregating up to six simultaneous overlaid surfaces. Increases in element density or number of planes have a detrimental effect on the transparency percept. The effect of increasing the inter-plane disparity is strongly influenced by other stimulus parameters. This latter result can explain a difference in the literature concerning the role of inter-plane disparity in perception of stereo-transparency. We argue that the effects of stimuli parameters on the transparency percept can be accounted for not only by inhibitory interactions, as has been suggested, but also by the inherent properties of disparity detectors.

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History
Received September 25, 2007; published May 19, 2008
Citation
Tsirlin, I., Allison, R. S., & Wilcox, L. M. (2008). Stereoscopic transparency: Constraints on the perception of multiple surfaces. Journal of Vision, 8(5):5, 1-10, http://journalofvision.org/8/5/5/, doi:10.1167/8.5.5.
Keywords
stereopsis, stereo-transparency, pseudo-transparency, neural interactions, size-disparity correlation
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