Cortical area MT+ plays a role in monocular depth perception Y Tsushima1, K Komine2, N Hiruma2 |
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1Human & Information Science Division, NHK Science and Technology Research Labs., Japan |
| Last year at ECVP 2012, we reported that luminance-contrast smoothness is useful as one of depth cues. On top of that, we found that increase of the luminance-contrast smoothness enhances depth perception. To understand what neural mechanism underlies the perceptual phenomenon, we conducted a series of fMRI experiments. Two same-sized bars were vertically presented on the display. To make those bars to have depth information, both bars contained the gradual luminance-contrast change from one side to the other (LtoR or RtoL) [O’Shea et al, 1994, Vision Research, 33, 1595-1604]. The smoothness of luminance-contrast change were varied by manipulating the resolution of the stimuli, and one had higher and the other had lower smoothness. In fMRI scanner, participants were asked to report which bar they perceived more depth (Depth task). In a separate session, they were engaged to report which bar was darker, with the same stimulus set used in the depth task (Luminance task). Both tasks were conducted with monocular viewing. As a result, we found that the depth task condition more strongly activated human middle temporal (MT+) than the luminance task condition. This finding suggests that MT+ plays an important role in monocular depth perception. |
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