Self-Reported Magic Eye™ Stereogram Skill Predicts Stereoacuity

Abstract

Autostereograms--commonly known as Magic Eye stereograms (MESs)--are two-dimensional images that support stereoscopic depth perception given an appropriate crossing or uncrossing of the eyes. We find that self-reported MES skill is highly predictive of stereoacuity as measured by a standard clinical test (r142 = 0.45, p < 0.0001; TNO test). Indeed, in our sample of 194 individuals, those who report poor MES skill have a five-fold increased risk of stereo impairment. Those who report poor MES skill also require on average five times greater binocular disparity to perceive stereoscopic depth than those who report good MES skill. Reported MES skill thus carries significant information about stereoacuity.

Visual mechanisms governing the perception of auto‐stereograms

“…The relative values of the standardised coefficients of the discriminant functions f 1 and f 2 revealed stereoacuity, negative relative convergence, phoria at near and, to a lesser extent, the AC/A ratio as the most relevant predictors for the categorisation of our participants. This finding is in agreement with the previously documented association between stereoacuity and the self‐reported skill in perceiving Magic Eye stereograms, as measured by the standard clinical TNO test, 17 and would suggest that, apart from stereoacuity, divergence is the most important factor to consider when exploring the ability to perceive SIRDS. An ANOVA analysis of all discriminant variables disclosed statistically significant between‐group differences only for stereoacuity (p = 0.001) and NRC (p = 0.003).…”

“…The ability to perceive SIRDS has been investigated with reference to the visual skills of the observer, 15,16 mainly as a means to develop new visual tests. The self‐reported skill to visualise SIRDS has been found to be highly predictive of stereoacuity, as measured by the TNO test 17 . Other investigators have explored the association between the time required to perceive SIRDS and a variety of visual skills, noting that most observers can correctly see the hidden stereo‐image in less than 20 seconds provided they initiate or maintain the proper amount of divergence 18 .…”

Individual differences in visual science: What can be learned and what is good experimental practice?

“…For example, Dobkins, Gunther, and Peterzell (2000) determined that measures of luminance contrast sensitivity, chromatic contrast sensitivity, and luminance spectral sensitivity were mostly uncorrelated across the three types of measures, but positively correlated within a type of measure. In another example, Wilmer and Backus (2008) found that variability in self-reported autostereogram skill predicts stereoacuity. Other studies examine whether or not variability in visual tasks predict non-visual abilities or performance.…”

A population study of binocular function

“…4(a). Wilmer and Backus (2008) retest reliability for crossed stereo acuity regression scores was 719 q = 0.52 (p = 1.4 Â 10 À8 ), and for uncrossed stereo acuity regres-720 sion scores was 0.54 (p = 2.2 Â 10 À9 ). was taken across the two eyes) was 0.48 (p = 9.3 Â 10 À7 , n = 97).…”