Mixed-polarity random-dot stereograms alter GABA and Glx concentration in the early visual cortex

The offset between images projected onto the left and right retina (binocular disparity) provides a powerful cue to the three-dimensional structure of the environment. It was previously shown that depth judgements are better when images comprise both light and dark features, rather than only light or only dark elements. Since Harris and Parker ( Nature 374: 808–811, 1995) discovered the “mixed-polarity benefit,” there has been limited evidence supporting their hypothesis that the benefit is due to separate bright and dark channels. Goncalves and Welchman ( Curr Biol 27: 1403–1412, 2017) observed that single- and mixed-polarity stereograms evoke different levels of positive and negative activity in a deep neural network trained on natural images to make depth judgements, which also showed the mixed-polarity benefit. Motivated by this discovery, we seek to test the potential for changes in the balance of excitation and inhibition that are produced by viewing these stimuli. In particular, we use magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure Glx and GABA concentrations in the early visual cortex of adult humans during viewing of single- and mixed-polarity random-dot stereograms (RDS). We find that participants’ Glx concentration is significantly higher, whereas GABA concentration is significantly lower, when mixed-polarity RDS are viewed than when single-polarity RDS are viewed. These results indicate that excitation and inhibition facilitate processing of single- and mixed-polarity stereograms in the early visual cortex to different extents, consistent with recent theoretical work (Goncalves NR, Welchman AE. Curr Biol 27: 1403–1412, 2017). NEW & NOTEWORTHY Depth judgements are better when images comprise both light and dark features, rather than only light or only dark elements. Using magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we show that adult human participants’ Glx concentration is significantly higher whereas GABA concentration is significantly lower in the early visual cortex when participants view mixed-polarity random-dot stereograms (RDS) compared with single-polarity RDS. These results indicate that excitation and inhibition facilitate processing of single- and mixed-polarity stereograms in the early visual cortex to different extents.