| Detecting contrast changes in invisible patterns during binocular rivalry. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20858513 Owner: NLM Status: In-Process |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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When dissimilar images are presented to the two eyes, the human visual system lapses into binocular rivalry, a unique perceptual state characterized by stochastic alternations in dominance of one of the two source images over the other. Probe targets delivered to an eye during suppression phases are more difficult to detect than probes delivered during dominance phases. Nearly all probe studies have involved presenting new stimulation (e.g., a spot of light) either superimposed on or replacing the suppressed stimulus. Here, we ask whether observers can detect a reduction in the contrast of the suppressed stimulus itself. In other words, can observers detect a probe that should make an already invisible stimulus even weaker? Specifically, we compared observers' ability to detect contrast increments and contrast decrements introduced within a rival pattern during dominance and suppression. Contrast increment thresholds were elevated across all pedestal contrasts when the increment was introduced during suppression compared to during dominance, replicating previous results. Contrast decrement thresholds measured during suppression were elevated to an even greater extent, but the fact that they were obtained at all establishes that observers were able to detect probes that should make an already invisible target even more difficult to perceive. In a second experiment, we found a similar pattern of results for contrast change detection in complex images of faces as well. Based on the resulting threshold-vs.-contrast functions, we suggest that, regardless of the complexity of the image, rivalry suppression modulates the neural contrast response function through a mixture of reduced overall response gain and a shift in the contrast gain. |
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Authors:
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Sam Ling; Bjorn Hubert-Wallander; Randolph Blake |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Date: 2010-09-19 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Vision research Volume: 50 ISSN: 1878-5646 ISO Abbreviation: Vision Res. Publication Date: 2010 Nov |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-11-08 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0417402 Medline TA: Vision Res Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 2421-9 Citation Subset: IM |
Copyright Information:
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Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
Affiliation:
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Department of Psychology/Vanderbilt Vision Research Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA. s.ling@vanderbilt.edu |
Export Citation:
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Descriptor/Qualifier:
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| Grant Support | |
ID/Acronym/Agency:
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EY007135/EY/NEI NIH HHS; EY13358/EY/NEI NIH HHS |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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