Comprehensive Guide to Depth Perception and Auditory Processing

Absolute disparity

The difference in the position of an object's image on the two retinas, which provides depth information.

Accommodation

The process by which the eye adjusts the lens to focus on objects at different distances.

Accretion

A depth cue that involves the gradual appearance of an object as it moves closer to the observer.

Ames room

A distorted room that creates an optical illusion of varying sizes of people within it.

Angle of disparity

The angle formed between the lines of sight from each eye to an object, contributing to depth perception.

Angular size contrast theory

A theory suggesting that the perceived size of an object is influenced by the size of surrounding objects.

Apparent distance theory

A theory that explains how size perception is influenced by the perceived distance of an object.

Atmospheric perspective

A monocular cue for depth perception where distant objects appear hazier and bluer than nearby objects.

Binocular depth cell

Neurons that respond to the disparity between the images in the left and right eyes, aiding depth perception.

Binocular disparity

The difference in images seen by the left and right eyes, which is crucial for depth perception.

Binocularly fixate

The process of both eyes focusing on the same object to achieve depth perception.

Conflicting cues theory

A theory suggesting that depth perception is influenced by conflicting visual cues.

Convergence

The inward movement of the eyes when focusing on a nearby object, providing depth information.

Correspondence problem

The challenge of matching images from the two eyes to perceive depth accurately.

Corresponding retinal points

Points on the two retinas that correspond to the same point in the visual field, aiding in depth perception.

Crossed disparity

A type of binocular disparity that occurs when an object is closer than the horopter.

Cue approach to depth perception

A method of understanding depth perception based on various visual cues.

Misapplied size constancy scaling

A phenomenon where size perception is distorted due to incorrect scaling based on distance.

Deletion

The process by which an object becomes obscured or disappears from view as it moves behind another object.

Disparity-selective cell

Neurons that respond specifically to certain disparities between the images from the two eyes.

Disparity tuning curve

A graphical representation of how neurons respond to different levels of binocular disparity.

Echolocation

The ability to locate objects by reflected sound waves, used by some animals for navigation.

Emmert's law

A principle stating that the perceived size of an object is proportional to its perceived distance.

Familiar size

A monocular cue for depth perception based on knowledge of the typical size of objects.

Frontal eyes

Eyes positioned at the front of the head, providing overlapping fields of view for better depth perception.

Horopter

An imaginary surface in space where objects are seen as single images by both eyes.

Lateral eyes

Eyes positioned on the sides of the head, providing a wider field of view but less depth perception.

Monocular cue

A depth cue that can be perceived with one eye, such as size, texture, or linear perspective.

Moon illusion

The optical illusion that the moon appears larger when it is near the horizon than when it is high in the sky.

Motion parallax

A depth cue that results from the relative movement of objects as an observer moves.

Müller-Lyer illusion

An optical illusion where two lines of equal length appear to be different lengths due to arrow-like ends.

Noncorresponding points

Points on the retinas that do not correspond to the same point in the visual field, affecting depth perception.

Occlusion

A monocular cue for depth perception where one object obstructs the view of another.

Oculomotor cue

A depth cue that involves the movement of the eyes, such as convergence and accommodation.

Perspective convergence

The visual effect where parallel lines appear to converge as they recede into the distance.

Pictorial cue

A depth cue that can be depicted in a two-dimensional image, such as overlap or shading.

Ponzo illusion

An optical illusion where two horizontal lines appear to be different lengths due to converging lines.

Random-dot stereogram

A stereogram consisting of random dots that can create a 3D image when viewed with both eyes.

Relative disparity

The difference in disparity between two objects, which provides information about their relative distance.

Relative height

A monocular cue for depth perception where objects higher in the visual field are perceived as farther away.

Relative size

A monocular cue where objects that are smaller in size are perceived as being farther away.

Size constancy

The perception that an object maintains the same size despite changes in distance.

Size-distance scaling

The process of adjusting the perceived size of an object based on its distance from the observer.

Stereopsis

The perception of depth produced by the brain's processing of binocular disparity.

Stereoscope

A device used to view two images separately for each eye, creating a three-dimensional effect.

Stereoscopic depth perception

Depth perception achieved through the use of binocular disparity and stereopsis.

Stereoscopic vision

The ability to perceive depth through the use of two eyes and the processing of visual information.

Strabismus

A condition where the eyes do not properly align with each other, affecting depth perception.

Texture gradient

A monocular cue for depth perception based on the gradual change in texture detail with distance.

Uncrossed disparity

A type of binocular disparity that occurs when an object is farther away than the horopter.

Visual angle

The angle formed by the lines of sight from the eye to the edges of an object, affecting size perception.

Amplitude

The maximum extent of a wave's oscillation, related to the loudness of sound.

Amplitude modulation

A technique used in electronic communication where the amplitude of a carrier wave is varied.

Amplitude-modulated noise

Noise that has its amplitude varied in a way that can affect sound perception.

Aperiodic sound

A sound that does not have a regular repeating pattern, often perceived as noise.

Apex (of the cochlea or basilar membrane)

The highest point of the cochlea, where the basilar membrane is most responsive to low-frequency sounds.

Attack

The initial phase of a sound wave, which affects how the sound is perceived.

Audibility curve

A graph that shows the threshold of hearing at different frequencies for the average human ear.

Audiogram

A chart that displays an individual's hearing sensitivity across different frequencies.

Auditory canal

The tube through which sound waves travel to reach the eardrum.

Auditory response area

The range of sound frequencies to which a specific auditory neuron responds.

Base (of the cochlea or basilar membrane)

The part of the cochlea that is closest to the oval window and is responsive to high-frequency sounds.

Basilar membrane

A membrane in the cochlea that vibrates in response to sound waves, playing a key role in hearing.

Characteristic frequency

The specific frequency to which a particular auditory neuron is most responsive.

Cochlea

A spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear that converts sound vibrations into neural signals.

Cochlear amplifier

A mechanism in the cochlea that enhances sound sensitivity and frequency selectivity.

Cochlear nucleus

The first brainstem nucleus that receives auditory information from the cochlea.

Cochlear partition

The structure within the cochlea that separates the scala vestibuli from the scala tympani.

Decay

The gradual reduction in the amplitude of a sound wave over time.

Decibel (dB)

A unit of measurement for the intensity of sound, representing a logarithmic scale.