The stereoscopic pattern signal: Gestalt processes in the binocular field

Abstract A new definition of stereoscopic pattern signal is presented, and is used to devise a special series of random texture stereograms. Given the class of statistically homogenous textures, stereoscopic patterns will emerge when the elemental disparities perceptually cluster over the field. The specific variables for disparity clustering are: (a) the range of disparities within the figure in comparison to the range of disparities within the field; (b) the compactness of the figure disparities in comparison to the compactness of the field disparities; (c) the relative continuity of the disparity changes in the figure with respect to those in the field and/or (d) the absolute difference in the mean disparities of figure and field.