The development of active binocular vision under normal and alternate rearing conditions
- Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS), Germany
- Goethe University, Germany
- Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, China
Abstract
The development of binocular vision is an active learning process comprising the development of disparity tuned neurons in visual cortex and the establishment of precise vergence control of the eyes. We present a computational model for the learning and self-calibration of active binocular vision based on the Active Efficient Coding framework, an extension of classic efficient coding ideas to active perception. Under normal rearing conditions with naturalistic input, the model develops disparity tuned neurons and precise vergence control, allowing it to correctly interpret random dot stereograms. Under altered rearing conditions modeled after neurophysiological experiments, the model qualitatively reproduces key experimental findings on changes in binocularity and disparity tuning. Furthermore, the model makes testable predictions regarding how altered rearing conditions impede the learning of precise vergence control. Finally, the model predicts a surprising new effect that impaired vergence control affects the statistics of orientation tuning in visual cortical neurons.
Data availability
All data generated or analysed during this study are included in the manuscript and supporting files. Source data files have been provided for all Figures displaying our own generated data.
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McGill Calibrated Colour Image Databasehttp://tabby.vision.mcgill.ca/.
Article and author information
Author details
Funding
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (01GQ1414)
- Lukas Klimmasch
- Alexander Lelais
Gernan Federal Ministry of Education and Research (01EW1603A)
- Lukas Klimmasch
- Johann Schneider
- Maria Fronius
- Jochen Triesch
European Union's Horizon 2020 (713010)
- Alexander Lelais
Hong Kong Research Grants Council (16244416)
- Bertram Emil Shi
Quandt Foundation
- Jochen Triesch
The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.
Copyright
© 2021, Klimmasch et al.
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License permitting unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.
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