Cortical Responses and Shape Complexity of Stereoscopic Image - A Simultaneous EEG/MEG Study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In exploring human factors, stereoscopic 3D images have been used to investigate the neural responses associated with excessive depth, texture complexity, and other factors. However, the cortical oscillation associated with the complexity of stereoscopic images has been studied rarely. Here, we demonstrated that the oscillatory responses to three differently shaped 3D images (circle, star, and bat) increase as the complexity of the image increases.

METHODS: We recorded simultaneous EEG/MEG for three different stimuli. Spatio-temporal and spatio-spectro-temporal features were investigated by non-parametric permutation test.

RESULTS: The results showed that N300 and alpha inhibition increased in the ventral area as the shape complexity of the stereoscopic image increased.

CONCLUSION: It seems that the relative disparity in complex stereoscopic images may increase cognitive processing (N300) and cortical load (alpha inhibition) in the ventral area.