Influence of Peripheral on Central Stereopsis: An Induced Depth Tilt Effect

A large rotating black/white sectored disk (58 deg diameter) viewed with a neutral density filter over one eye is perceived as tilted in depth according to the Pulfrich phenomenon. But with fixation on a centrally located vertical bar (7 deg in length), the disk is perceived as vertical while the central bar is perceived as tilted in the opposite direction. This effect remains even if the central 38 deg portion of the disk is occluded leaving a peripheral annulus 10 deg in width. At an optimal rotation speed of 45° s⁻¹ and a filter of 2 log units, the inter-individual perceived tilt of the bar ranges between 5° and 10° as measured by nulling out the illusory tilt by adjustment with a joystick. Variable errors were extremely small and corresponded well with central stereoscopic resolution. The amount of illusory tilt depends on the speed of disk rotation and filter density, and its direction on the relation between the direction of motion and the filter-covered eye. The effect is not limited to Pulfrich-induced stereotilt: When the disk was stationary but physically tilted in depth, the induced tilt on the central bar corresponded to about 50% of the physical tilt. This effect, in turn, could be cancelled or enhanced by rotating the tilted disk and inducing an appropriate Pulfrich effect. With monocular viewing no induced depth tilt occurs. The results are interpreted in terms of a stereoscopic induced effect operating beyond the known peripheral limits of stereopsis.