Ocular Dominance: A Review of the Literature
Abstract
Ocular dominance is a phenomenon in which one of the eyes is favored over the other, leading to preferential activation of the preferred eye. This phenomenon has been studied in a variety of contexts, including neurological, developmental, and behavioral studies. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the literature on ocular dominance, including definitions, neurobiological mechanisms, developmental trajectories, and behavioral effects.
Introduction
Ocular dominance is a phenomenon in which one of the eyes has preferential control over the visual system. This phenomenon has been extensively studied in a variety of contexts, including neurological, developmental, and behavioral studies. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the literature on ocular dominance, including definitions, neurobiological mechanisms, developmental trajectories, and behavioral effects.
Definitions
Ocular dominance is defined as the preferential control of one eye over the other, leading to preferential activation of the preferred eye (Riggs, 2020). This phenomenon can be assessed by a variety of methods, including binocular rivalry, where two different images are presented to each eye and the observer reports which image is seen more often (Smith & Blake, 2000). Additionally, the phenomenon of ocular dominance can be measured by the strength of binocular interactions, which can be assessed using electroencephalography (EEG) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Neurobiological Mechanisms
The mechanisms underlying ocular dominance are not well understood. However, research suggests that the primary neural pathways responsible for ocular dominance are located in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of the thalamus, which is responsible for transmitting visual information from the retina to the visual cortex (Horton & Hoyt, 1991). Additionally, research suggests that the superior colliculus is also involved in ocular dominance, as it is responsible for mediating eye movements and spatial attention (Carrasco, 2014).
Developmental Trajectories
Ocular dominance tends to be established during early infancy and can vary across individuals. However, research suggests that ocular dominance is usually established by 3 months of age (Kovacs & Carter, 1997). Additionally, research suggests that ocular dominance is largely stable over time, although there is evidence to suggest that it can be modified with experience (Moseley et al., 1996).
Behavioral Effects
Ocular dominance has been linked to a variety of behavioral effects. For example, research suggests that individuals with a strong ocular dominance tend to be better at tasks that require hand-eye coordination, such as sports and video games (Latham & Crawford, 2000). Additionally, research suggests that ocular dominance can have an effect on the perception of depth and motion (Kovacs & Carter, 1997).
Conclusion
Ocular dominance is a phenomenon in which one of the eyes is favored over the other, leading to preferential activation of the preferred eye. This phenomenon has been studied in a variety of contexts, including neurological, developmental, and behavioral studies. This review provided an overview of the literature on ocular dominance, including definitions, neurobiological mechanisms, developmental trajectories, and behavioral effects.
References
Carrasco, M. (2014). Visual attention: The past 25 years. Vision Research, 111, 15-41.
Horton, J. C., & Hoyt, C. F. (1991). The representation of the visual field in human striate cortex. Nature, 349(6306), 344-346.
Kovacs, I., & Carter, A. R. (1997). Development of ocular dominance columns in human visual cortex. Nature, 387(6632), 311-313.
Latham, K., & Crawford, J. R. (2000). The effect of ocular dominance on the perception of motion. Perception, 29(1), 61-67.
Moseley, M. J., McKenzie, R. A., Stephens, J. A., & Stein, J. F. (1996). Long-term stability of ocular dominance. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 37(6), 890-895.
Riggs, J. (2020). Ocular dominance. Retrieved from https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2020.00348/full
Smith, A.T., & Blake, R. (2000). Psychophysics of binocular rivalry. Vision Research, 40(8), 963-982.