TY - JOUR

T1 - Stereo viewing modulates three-dimensional shape processing during object recognition

T2 - A high-density ERP study

AU - Oliver, Zoe

AU - Cristino, Filipe

AU - Roberts, Mark

AU - Pegna, Alan

AU - Leek, Charles

N1 - This work was supported by grants from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC: RES-062-23-2075) and British Academy to ECL. We have applied for GOLD standard open access (subject to BU RCUK block grant approval

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - The role of stereo disparity in the recognition of three-dimensional (3D) object shape remains an unresolved issue for theoretical models of the human visual system. We examined this issue using high-density (128 channel) recordings of event-related potentials (ERPs). A recognition memory task was used in which observers were trained to recognise a sub-set of complex, multi-part, 3D novel objects under conditions of either (bi-) monocular or stereo viewing. In a subsequent test phase they discriminated previously trained targets from untrained distractor objects that shared either local parts, 3D spatial configuration or neither dimension, across both previously seen and novel viewpoints. The behavioural data showed a stereo advantage for target recognition at untrained viewpoints. ERPs showed early differential amplitude modulations to shape similarity defined by local part structure and global 3D spatial configuration. This occurred initially during an N1 component around 145-190ms post-stimulus onset, and then subsequently during an N2/P3 component around 260-385ms post-stimulus onset. For mono viewing, amplitude modulation during the N1 was greatest between targets and distracters with different local parts for trained views only. For stereo viewing, amplitude modulation during the N2/P3 was greatest between targets and distracters with different global 3D spatial configurations and generalised across trained and untrained views. The results show that image classification is modulated by stereo information about the local part, and global 3D spatial configuration of object shape. The findings challenge current theoretical models that do not attribute functional significance to stereo input during the computation of 3D object shape.

AB - The role of stereo disparity in the recognition of three-dimensional (3D) object shape remains an unresolved issue for theoretical models of the human visual system. We examined this issue using high-density (128 channel) recordings of event-related potentials (ERPs). A recognition memory task was used in which observers were trained to recognise a sub-set of complex, multi-part, 3D novel objects under conditions of either (bi-) monocular or stereo viewing. In a subsequent test phase they discriminated previously trained targets from untrained distractor objects that shared either local parts, 3D spatial configuration or neither dimension, across both previously seen and novel viewpoints. The behavioural data showed a stereo advantage for target recognition at untrained viewpoints. ERPs showed early differential amplitude modulations to shape similarity defined by local part structure and global 3D spatial configuration. This occurred initially during an N1 component around 145-190ms post-stimulus onset, and then subsequently during an N2/P3 component around 260-385ms post-stimulus onset. For mono viewing, amplitude modulation during the N1 was greatest between targets and distracters with different local parts for trained views only. For stereo viewing, amplitude modulation during the N2/P3 was greatest between targets and distracters with different global 3D spatial configurations and generalised across trained and untrained views. The results show that image classification is modulated by stereo information about the local part, and global 3D spatial configuration of object shape. The findings challenge current theoretical models that do not attribute functional significance to stereo input during the computation of 3D object shape.

KW - Stereo disparity

KW - 3D object recognition

KW - local and global shape

KW - evoked potentials

U2 - 10.1037/xhp0000444

DO - 10.1037/xhp0000444

M3 - Article

VL - 44

SP - 518

EP - 534

JO - Journal of Experimental Psychology - Human Perception and Performance

JF - Journal of Experimental Psychology - Human Perception and Performance

SN - 0096-1523

IS - 4

ER -