Surface boundaries do not constrain a depth aftereffect

We investigated whether a depth aftereffect is better explained in a surface-based organization of depth representation (Nakayama & Shimojo, 1992), where depth is represented in conjunction with surface features, rather than a coordinate-based organization, where depth is represented in conjunction with spatial position. Observers adapted to a stereogram depicting a surface with reference plane and were tested with a surface with either the same contour or position as the adaptation surface. The aftereffect did not depend on test surface position or contour. Thus, a depth aftereffect can be caused by a mechanism that does not depend on grouping by surface contour or position.

Research highlights
► Adaptation to relative depth causes a position-invariant aftereffect.
► Surface boundaries do not constrain a depth aftereffect.
► A depth aftereffect is not better explained in a surface-based organization of depth perception than in a coordinate-based organization.