Binocular rivalry in split-brain observers.
During binocular rivalry, visual perception switches between a stimulus viewed by one eye and a different stimulus viewed by the other. We studied rivalry in split-brain observers to test two explanations. Rivalry could reflect switching of activity between the cerebral hemispheres, or switching by a structure in the right frontoparietal cortex. From these two theories, we predict no rivalry when stimuli are presented to a split-brain observer's left hemisphere. Yet we found similar rivalry from the left and right hemispheres of the split-brain observers, consistent with switchings being mediated by low-level processes within each hemisphere.
O'Shea
Robert P
RP
Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. r_oshea@otago.ac.nz
Corballis
Paul M
PM
D003243:Consciousness / Q000502:physiology; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015357:Vision Disparity / Q000502:physiology*; D015348:Vision, Binocular / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*