Stereopsis Flashcards
Define Depth Perception
- The ability to see the world in 3D
- Mix of binocular or monocular cues
Name the monocular & binocular cues?

The cues that permit interpretation of depth with one eye alone are called..?
Monocular or empirical cues of depth
Which one is hard wired vs learned (Monocular and Binocular)
Binocular depth cues = Hardwired
Monocular depth cues = Learned
List the pictorial cues (cues seen in photographs) vs. Nonpictorial cues (Monocular cues)
Pictorial cues
- Retinal image size
- Emmert’s Law
- Size constancy (Familiar)
- Linear perspective
- Texture gradient
- Imposition (interposition)
- Aerial perspective
- Shading (Light & shadow)
Presented in 2D representation like a photograph or painting/ Seen monocularly
Nonpictorial cues
- Accommodation
- Motion parallax
- Angular declination
- Kinetic depth effect

Relative (Retinal Image) Size
(Image: Which one is closer?)

- No reference = assume balloons are the same size
- When visual depth cues are removed
- smaller retinal image = perceived farther away
- larger retinal image = perceived as near
- Relative size is an important depth cue when viewing a scene that includes objects whose sizes can be compared to eachother
Size & Perceived Distance (Emmert’s law)
-
Emmert’s law: The perceived size of the object producing a retinal image of a given fixed size is proportional to its perceive distance
- Greater distance = afterimage appears to increase in size

Describe the moon illusion (Ex. Emmert’s Law)
- Moon on horizon = Larger (interpreted as more distance)
- Moon on Zenith = Smaller (Closer distance)
- Even though angular subtense is the same under both conditions
- Tree, houses, fields & other interposing objects causes the moon to appear farther away when viewed on the horizon and hence make it look larger

Describe Size Constancy (Familiar Size) when distance cues are not available
- 2 objects with unequal retinal images
- Same size at different distances
- Size constancy = perceptual scaling of the perceived size of an object according to the estimate distance
- When distance cues are not available, the visual system defaults to using reintal image size as the main cue to stimulus size

Describe size constancy when numerous cues are available (Natural Scenes)
- Cues occurs with objects of known size
- Ex. Taxi’s are larger than people
- So the visual system assumes that the taxi is far away because we rely on experience
- Even if other cues are removed, we can use familiar size to judge distance
Define size constancy
- When people’s perception of a particular object’s sizes does not change regardless of changes in distance from the object, (even though distance affects the size of the object as it is projected onto the retina)
- Tendency to perceive an object as being of one size no matter how far away the object is
What occurs when size constancy fails?
Size illusion occurs

Linear Perspective
- Related to relative size, can be experienced by looking down a a long corridor or railroad track
- The retinal image size of the rail separation is smaller int he background than the foreground creating illusion of depth
- although they are physically the same distance from the eyes

Describe Texture Gradient
- Bricks in the background = more densely packed
- Densely packed object = smaller retinal image size = more distance

Interposition (Imposition)
- Occurs when view is partially obstructed
- Church is interposed between the viewer and mountains (perceived as lying distant to it)
- Nearer object occldues the distant object creating a sense of depth
Describe Aerial Perspective
- form of interposition/clarity
- Fog, rain, smoke and smog may act as interposing elements-causing them to appear more distant and contributes to sense of depth
- Distance objects appear less sharper than near
Lighting & Shading
- Direction of lighting & shading of an object can tell us about the object’s depth
- When lighting falls on an object = casts a shadow
- Shadow falls behind the object creating a sense of depth
Describe Accommodation
- Increase accommodation to keep the object at near in focus can provide cue for depth
- Hypothesis: level of innervation of accommodation could provide distance information
- not used as much to judge distances
- Accommodation = weak cue for depth perception
Describe Motion Parallax
- kinetic monocular depth cue
- Results when a moving observer fixates on an object while noticing the relative motion of surrounding objects
- Relative motion provides information regarding distance
- Distance = With motion
- Near = Against motion

Kinetic Depth Effect
- Shape from motion
- Rotating wire 2D - differential motion = give rise to 3D percept
- Looming - rapid expansion (or shrinking) in the size of any given image
Angular Declindation below the horizon
- Monocular observer stands upright in an empty room viewing an object at 10 feet
- Despite the absence of pictorial depth cues the observer is able to correctly judge the object’s distances
- The object makes an angle with the horizon referred to as angular declination below the horizon
- The visual system uses this angle to determine object distance
BV Disadvantages
- They require more neurons and neural activity
- Two eyes MUST work together with little error
- More prcise controlled system required
Coordination Entails
- Eye movement coordination
- Equal VA in both eyes
- Binocular fusion
- Binocularity without suppression
- Healthy eyes without anisometropia, aniseikonia
Misalignment between the two eyes incorrectly can produce
- Strabismus (eye turn)
- Amblyopia (reduced spatial vision in one eye)
- Suppression or
- diplopia



