title: Is vertical disparity used to determine azimuth?
abstract: The azimuth of a stimulus relative to the head can be determined from an extra-retinal, eye-position signal plus an estimate of the retinal eccentricity of the image. Alternatively, azimuth could be determined from retinal-image information alone. Specifically, stimulus azimuth could be estimated from two derivatives of vertical disparity: vertical size ratio (which varies with azimuth), and the horizontal gradient of vertical size ratio (a measure of distance). Here we examine the determinants of perceived azimuth in viewing conditions that, theoretically, should favor the use of vertical disparity. We find no evidence that vertical disparity is used. Perceived azimuth was determined completely by felt eye position and the retinal eccentricity of the image.
authors.affiliation: Vision Science Program, School of Optometry, University of California, Berkeley 94720-2020, USA. marty@john.berkeley.edu
authors.forename: Martin S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Banks
authors.forename: Benjamin T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Backus
authors.forename: Raymond S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Banks
mesh_terms: D003867:Depth Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011601:Psychophysics; D015357:Vision Disparity / Q000502:physiology*; D015348:Vision, Binocular / Q000502:physiology*