An Alternative Theory of Binocularity

Abstract

The fact that seeing with two eyes is universal among vertebrates raises a problem that has long challenged vision scientists: how do animals with overlapping visual fields combine non-identical right and left eye images to achieve fusion and the perception of depth that follows? Most theories address this problem in terms of matching corresponding images on the right and left retinas. Here we suggest an alternative theory of binocular vision based on anatomical correspondence that circumvents the correspondence problem and provides a rationale for ocular dominance.

Multisensory-inspired modeling and neural correlates for two key binocular interactions

“…It is intriguing to consider the disconnect between a monocularly-driven binocular enhancement model and the phenomenon of stereopsis. A partial reconciliation is inherent in a recent model of stereopsis that utilizes monocularly-dominated inputs 67 . It is interesting that a recent study of pheromone interaction in insects-a phenomenon that was previously modeled using both pheromones-has been shown to be well-modeled using one pheromone 68 ; the data obey the Billock and Havig 28 gated amplification model (used here for binocular enhancement) , but with a more compressive exponent.…”