Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Monocular versus Binocular Visual Acuity

Nature volume 208, pages 191–192 (1965)Cite this article

Abstract

THIS communication describes experiments in which the threshold contrast of gratings viewed monocularly and binocularly have been determined (Fig. 1). We have modified the technique of Schade1 so that a grating target is generated on an oscilloscope by supplying suitable signals to the x, y and z axes. It could be continuously varied both in contrast and fineness (spatial frequency) without the mean luminance of the screen changing. The energy distribution across the grating varied sinuosoidally. The grating filled a rectangular area subtending 2° by 1.3°, and was surrounded by a circular field of 12° diameter of the same luminance as the oscilloscope screen (80 cd/m2). The screen was viewed from 57 in., and in all the experiments particular care was taken to correct the eye to within 0.12 diopter with spectacle lenses.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Schade, O. H., J. Opt. Soc. Amer., 46, 721 (1956).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Campbell, F. W., Robson, J. G., and Westheimer, G., J. Physiol., 145, 575 (1959).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Stiles, W. S., and Crawford, B. H., Proc. Roy. Soc., B, 112, 428 (1933).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Campbell, F. W., J. Physiol., 144, 25P (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Barany, E., Acta Ophthal. Kbh., 24, 63 (1946).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Horowitz, M. W., J. Exp. Psychol., 39, 581 (1949).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Lythgoe, R. J., and Phillips, L. R., J. Physiol., 91, 427 (1937–38).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Crozier, W. J., and Holway, A. H., J. Gen. Physiol., 22, 341 (1939).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Pirenne, M. H., Nature, 152, 698 (1943).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Hubel, D. H., and Wiesel, T. N., J. Physiol., 160, 106 (1962).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Barlow, H. B., J. Opt. Soc. Amer., 46, 634 (1956).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Barlow, H. B., J. Physiol., 141, 337 (1958).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Schlaer, S., J. Gen. Physiol., 21, 165 (1937).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Physiological Laboratory, University of Cambridge,

    F. W. CAMPBELL & D. G. GREEN

Authors
  1. F. W. CAMPBELL
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. G. GREEN
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

CAMPBELL, F., GREEN, D. Monocular versus Binocular Visual Acuity. Nature 208, 191–192 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1038/208191a0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/208191a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing