PROPSYCHOTIC CHANGE IN BINOCULAR DEPTH IN VERSION THROUGH SLEEP-DEPRIVATION

Binocular depth inversion represents an illusion of visual perception. Such inversion does not occur in all cases, especially when objects w ith a higher degree of familiarity (e.g. photographs of faces) are dis played. Cognitive factors are assumed to override the binocular dispar ity cues of stereopsis. We tested the hypothesis that during sleep dep rivation the human CNS is unable to correct the implausible perceptual information. Measurements of binocular depth inversion in perception of 3D objects were taken in sleep-deprived medical staff and healthy v olunteers. The binocular depth inversion scores were highly elevated i n the sleep-deprived group in comparison to the healthy volunteers. Th e data demonstrate a strong impairment of binocular depth inversion af ter sleep deprivation and support the view that sleep deprivation may be accompanied by a disorganisation of the interaction between sensory input and generation of perceptual hypotheses.