Optimal image parameters for maximizing visuo-auditory interactions on stereoscopic depth perception

Abstract

Humans depend largely on sensory information while interacting with the world. Depth perception, in particular, is of critical importance because it enables us to navigate the environment safely by correctly estimating the distance between objects. Objects with complex information can be identified more effectively when three-dimensionally presented. In display industry, 3D visualization is therefore considered as one of the leading technology developments that will enter our everyday life in the not-so-distant future. When our sensory system perceives conflicting information, vision plays a more dominant role in spatial processing, while audition becomes more dominant in temporal processing. Even though the visual dominance over audition in spatial depth perception is intuitively understandable, conflicting findings on audiovisual depth perception have been reported in previous studies. In order to identify the optimal image parameter for stereo sound-induced perceived-depth bias, the effects of spatial frequency and horizontal binocular disparity on stereoscopic depth discrimination were investigated. A 2AFC procedure was used to measure the perceived depth shift and stereoscopic acuity, and the results of our experiment demonstrate that the depth perception of blurred low-frequency stereo image with uncrossed disparity is most susceptible to sound-induced perceived-depth bias. The findings from this study provide valuable insight into stereoscopic depth perception in the context of audiovisual sensory information, confirming the need to carefully control the special stereo sound effects in 3D contents design.