Perceiving in Depth, Volume 2: Stereoscopic Vision(29 Oxford Psychology Series)

Perceiving in Depth is a sequel to Binocular Vision and Stereopsis and to Seeing in Depth, both by Ian P. Howard and Brian J. Rogers. This three-volume work is much broader in scope than previous texts and includes mechanisms of depth perception by all senses, including aural, electrosensory organs, and the somatosensory system. The work contains three extensively illustrated and referenced volumes. Volume 1 reviews sensory coding, psychophysical and analytic procedures, and basic visual mechanisms. Volume 2 reviews stereoscopic vision. Volume 3 reviews all mechanisms of depth perception other than stereoscopic vision. Together, these three volumes provide the most detailed review of all aspects of perceiving the three-dimensional world. Volume 2 addresses stereoscopic vision in cats and primates, including humans. It starts with an account of the physiology of stereoscopic mechanisms. It then deals with binocular rivalry, binocular summation, binocular masking, and the interocular transfer of visual effects, such as the motion aftereffect and visual learning. Visual inputs from corresponding regions in the two eyes project to binocular cells in the visual cortex and fuse to create an impression of one image. The geometry of the region in space that creates fused images (the horopter) is discussed in some detail. Objects outside the horopter produce images with binocular disparity. Stereoscopic vision depends on the detection of these disparities after the two images have brought into correct register in the visual cortex. A review of mechanisms that bring the images into binocular register is followed by a review of stimulus tokens that are used to detect binocular disparities. A visual effect that is visible only after inputs from the two eyes have by combined is a cyclopean effect. Cyclopean effects, such as cyclopean geometrical illusions, cyclopean motion, texture segregation, and binocular direction are reviewed. a geometry of binocular vision and of mechanisms that allow us to perceive depth from binocular disparity. Stereoacuity is the smallest depth interval that can be detected. The factors that influence stereoacuity are discussed. The many types of binocular disparity, such as point disparity, orientation disparity, and spatial gradients of disparity are described. The role of each type of disparity in stereopsis is reviewed. Stimuli in distinct depth planes produce contrast effects and many visual effects, such as figure perception, motion perception, and whiteness perception, are affected by the relative distances of stimuli. These topics are reviewed. The spatiotemporal aspects of stereoscopic vision, including the Pulfrich stereomotion effect are reviewed. The volume ends with a review of techniques used to create stereoscopic displays and of the applications of stereoscopy.

Table of Contents:
Contents of Volume 2 11. Physiology of disparity detection 12. Binocular fusion and rivalry 13. Binocular summation, masking, and transfer 14. Binocular correspondence and the horopter 15. Linking binocular images 16. Cyclopean vision 17. Stimulus tokens for stereopsis 18. Stereoscopic acuity 19. Types of binocular disparity 20. Binocular disparity and depth perception 21. Depth contrast 22. Stereopsis and perceptual organization 23. The Pulfrich effect 24. Stereoscopic techniques and applications References Subject index Portrait index Index of cited journals

About the Author :
Ian P. Howard is Professor emeritus in the Centre for Vision Research at York University in Toronto. He is the co-author of Human Spatial Orientation, Human Visual Orientation, and with Brian J. Rogers, of Binocular Vision and Stereopsis (Oxford University Press, 1995) and Seeing in Depth (Porteous and Oxford University Press, 2005). Brian J. Rogers is Professor of Experimental Psychology at Oxford University. He is the author, with Ian P. Howard, of Binocular Vision and Stereopsis, OUP, 1995 and Seeing in Depth, (Porteous and Oxford University Press, 2005).

Review :
From reviews of previous editions "Those who work in the area of binocular vision should consider adding this two-volume set to their personal libraries, even if they own the 1995 book." --Scott Stevenson in Optometry and Visual Science "...the definitive reference and summary of this field for a long time to come. This new volume ranges far beyond what its title promises... belongs not only on the shelf of experts in stereoscopic vision, but also on that of every vision researcher." --The Quarterly Review of Biology "The authors are adept wordsmiths with an encyclopaedic knowledge, and there is little on which they do not have a deeply considered view. This is a hugely impressive book and the copious illustrations, many specially prepared, are unusually handsome, nicely complementing the text." --F.A. Miles in Trends in Neuroscience "An invaluable book certain to be a classic... The book works well because the authors executed it so efficiently. The provide comprehensive, even encyclopaedic coverage, a balanced nonpolemic treatment coupled with lucid coherent exposition... The text is richly supported by hundreds of figure and at least 2,800 references... One could build a seminar around this book, especially so because the writing is unusually free of jargon." --Contemporary Psychology "This marvelous book is surely one of the most important perceptual works in recent years. It is difficult to think of any other area of perception which has ever received a treatment so comprehensive, coherent, and accurate that is at the same time highly stimulating... The reader will find much food for thought... I strongly recommend it to any vision researcher.' --Perception