Skip to main content
Log in

Vergence eye movement control and multivalent perception of autostereograms

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
Biological Cybernetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We introduce a dynamical model for automatic vergence eye movement control. In connection with our dynamical system of binocular model neurons that solves the correspondence problem of stereo-vision, we present a complete model for stereo-vision. Our automatic vergence eye movement control adjusts an image segment, which is of momentary interest to the observer. The adjustment is done in such a way that we only need to define a disparity search range of minimal extension. ecently, a new method of encoding (3D) three-dimenional information in 2D pictures was designed in the form of computer-generated patterns of colored dots. At first glimpse, these so-called autostereograms appear as structured but meaningless patterns. After a certain period of observation, a 3D pattern emerges suddenly in an impressive way. Applying our algorithm to autostereograms, we find a fully satisfactory agreement with the multivalent perception experienced by humans. As in nature, in our model the phase transition between the initial state and the 3D perception state takes place in a very short time. Our algorithm is very robust against noise, and there is no need to interpolate a sparse depth map.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barlow HB, Blakemore C, Pettigrew J (1967) The neural mechanism of binocular depth discrimination. J Physiol Lond 193:327–342

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barnard ST, Fischler MA (1982) Computational stereo. Comput Surv 14:553–572

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dhond UR, Aggarwal JK (1989) Structure from stereo — a review. IEEE Trans Syst Man Cybern 19:1489–1510

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frisby JP, Clatworthy JL (1975) Learning to see complex random-dot stereograms. Perception 8:173–178

    Google Scholar 

  • Grimson WEL (1981) A computer implementation of a theory of human stereo vision. Phil Trans R Soc Lond [Biol] 292:217–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Haken H (1987) Synergetic computers for pattern recognition and associative memory. In: Haken H (ed) Computational systems — natural and artificial. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Haken H (1991) Synergetic computers and cognition. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Hubel DH, Wiesel TN (1970) Stereoscopic vision in macaque monkey. Nature 225:41–42

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Julesz B (1960) Binocular depth perception of computer-generated patterns, Bell Syst Techn J 39:1125–1162

    Google Scholar 

  • Julesz B (1971) Foundations of cyclopean perception. University of Chicago Press, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Marr D (1982) Vision. Freemann, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Marr D (1974) Memo 327. Mass Inst Technol Artif Intell Lab, Cambridge, Mass. Marr D (1976) Early processing of visual information. Phil Trans R Soc Lond [Biol] 275:483–524

    Google Scholar 

  • Marr D, Poggio T (1979) A computational theory of human stereo vision. Proc R Soc Lond [Biol] 204:301–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Rashbass C, Westheimer G (1961a) Disjunctive eye movements. J Physiol 159:339–360

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rashbass C, Westheimer G (1961b) Independence of conjunctive and disjunctive eye movements. J Physiol 159:361–364

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reimann D, Haken H (1994) Stereo-vision by selforganization. Biol Cybern 71:17–26

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Westheimer G, Mitchell DE (1969) The sensory stimulus for disjunctive eye movements. Vision Res 9:749–755

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thimbleby H, Neesham C (1993) How to play tricks with dots. New Scientist 1894:26–29

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Reimann, D., Ditzinger, T., Fischer, E. et al. Vergence eye movement control and multivalent perception of autostereograms. Biol. Cybern. 73, 123–128 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00204050

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00204050

Keywords

Navigation