Stereoscopic Vision: Cortical Limitations and a Disparity Scaling Effect

The spatial limitations of stereoscopic vision were studied by using vertical line stimuli containing sinusoidal disparity variations such that different parts of the line appeared at different depths. Stimuli with a finer grain than about 3 cycles per degree did not elicit depth perception, even though the sinusoidal curvature was clearly visible monocularly. At low spatial frequencies of curvature, stereoacuity was limited to the same extent as the monocular sensitivity. The limiting disparity for Panum's fusional region and the upper depth limit are subject to a scaling effect in proportion to stimulus dimensions. The disparity scaling can be characterized by a fixed maximum angular difference between the parts of the stereoscopic half-images.