Evoked potentials to dynamic random dot stimuli with varying dot density ratios of disparity to background

A systematic study was made of visual evoked responses to dynamic random dot stimuli containing controllable, monocularly visible contrast cues. Ratios of dot densities for the centrally presented, disparate figure and the background were varied in steps of 1/8 maximum density between 0/8 and 8/8. The figure was either a square or an equivalent area of nebulous shape. A 30-arc min disparity was compared with binocular nondisparate and monocular conditions. Evoked responses (scalp sites 02, 01, T6, T5) were averaged for each of 24 disparity-contrast-shape conditions. At all contrast levels, response amplitudes and latency over the left hemisphere was significantly greater than over the right hemisphere. For 30 arc min disparity, amplitudes in the 8/8 condition were significantly smaller than in conditions where stimulus/background contrast could afford monocular depth cues. Hemisphere amplitude differences diminished as contrast decreased. Factor analyses isolated two overlapping components in the response to disparate stimuli. The earlier, at 236 ms latency, may index the stereoscopic stimulus features. The later, at 295 ms, peaking at maximum contrast and present in all suprathreshold nondisparity conditions, may index contrast features of the stimulus. The results indicate the importance of controlling dot density ratios in electrophysiological studies of the stereoscopic response to random dot stimuli.