Anisotropy in Werner's Binocular Depth-contrast Effect

We investigated Werner's binocular depth-contrast effect. Subjects viewed stereograms consisting of a test pattern and an inducing pattern. The half-images of the inducing pattern were either horizontally scaled or sheared relative to each other. Subjects judged the (induced) perceived slant of the test pattern. We were interested in what influence the spatial configuration of the test pattern and the inducing pattern had on the depth-contrast effect. We conclude that the depth-contrast effect is a global effect. In other words, it is not restricted to the location of the inducing pattern. The effect decreases with distance, however, in an anisotropic way. The depth-contrast effect was present most prominently when the test pattern was positioned in the direction along the slant (rotation) axis of the inducing pattern. We suggest that Werner's depth-contrast effect can be explained by the (previously reported) findings that: (1) stereopsis is relatively insensitive to whole-field horizontal scale and shear; and (2) stereopsis is very sensitive to horizontal scale and shear of two stimuli relative to each other.