The response characteristics of an inhibitory binocular interaction in human vision

1. The contrast threshold level for visual detection of a linear grating consisting of parallel light and dark bars is increased by adaptation to a high contrast grating of spatial characteristics similar to those of the test grating (e.g. Blakemore & Campbell, 1969). This so-called contrast threshold elevation effect is significantly reduced if two adaptation gratings, with appropriate different spatial characteristics, are presented one to either eye (Ruddock & Wigley, 1976). We have studied the contrast threshold elevation effect obtained with a test and an adaptation grating presented to one eye and a second adaptation grating, referred to as the conditioning grating, presented to the other. 2. Preliminary data are presented for three subjects with normal stereoscopic vision. In each case, the contrast threshold elevation effect for a pair of spatially identical test and adaptation gratings is significantly reduced by a conditioning grating of spatial frequency in the range 1-5 c/deg. 3. Reduction in the contrast elevation effect is observed whether the conditioning and adaptation gratings are of the same or of different wave-lengths and the effect of the conditioning grating increases to a steady-state level over a period of some 30 sec following onset of its presentation. 4. Measurements were made with a 5 deg diameter circular test grating presented at retinal locations up to 8 deg in the horizontal and vertical meridians from a foveal fixation point. It was found that in the horizontal meridian, the amplitude of the suppression effect associated with the conditioning grating falls as the displacement angle of the test field from the fixation point increases. For displacements in the vertical meridian, however, the amplitude of the suppression effect is virtually independent of the retinal location of the test field. 5. Under experimental conditions which yield suppression of the contrast threshold elevation effect for subjects with normal stereoscopic vision, no suppression was found for three subjects who possessed neither global nor fine stereoscopic vision. Results for a subject who possessed fine, but not global stereoscopy, did, however, show the suppression effect.