title: Grouping of optic flow stimuli during binocular rivalry is driven by monocular information.
abstract: During binocular rivalry, perception alternates between two dissimilar images, presented dichoptically. Although binocular rivalry is thought to result from competition at a local level, neighboring image parts with similar features tend to be perceived together for longer durations than image parts with dissimilar features. This simultaneous dominance of two image parts is called grouping during rivalry. Previous studies have shown that this grouping depends on a shared eye-of-origin to a much larger extent than on image content, irrespective of the complexity of a static image. In the current study, we examine whether grouping of dynamic optic flow patterns is also primarily driven by monocular (eye-of-origin) information. In addition, we examine whether image parameters, such as optic flow direction, and partial versus full visibility of the optic flow pattern, affect grouping durations during rivalry. The results show that grouping of optic flow is, as is known for static images, primarily affected by its eye-of-origin. Furthermore, global motion can affect grouping durations, but only under specific conditions. Namely, only when the two full optic flow patterns were presented locally. These results suggest that grouping during rivalry is primarily driven by monocular information even for motion stimuli thought to rely on higher-level motion areas.
authors: Utrecht University, Division of Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: vivian.holten@lrz.uni-muenchen.de.
authors: Vivian
authors: V
authors: Holten
authors: Utrecht University, Division of Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Sjoerd M
authors: SM
authors: Stuit
authors: The University of Sydney, School of Psychology, Griffith Taylor Building A19, NSW 2006, Sydney, Australia.
authors: Frans A J
authors: FAJ
authors: Verstraten
authors: Utrecht University, Division of Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Maarten J
authors: MJ
authors: van der Smagt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D023882:Dominance, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057849:Optic Flow / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D015348:Vision, Binocular / Q000502:physiology*; D015349:Vision, Monocular / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Binocular rivalry; Optic flow; Perceptual grouping; Vision